DPG Media takes over RTL Nederland for 1.1 billion euros. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) has given permission for the takeover after more than a year and a half of investigation. As of July 1, RTL Nederland is part of DPG Media.
DPG Media and RTL Nederland, which also includes streaming service Videoland, had already reached an agreement at the end of 2023. With the takeover, the publisher of NU.nl, de Volkskrant, Donald Duck and Qmusic, among others, is entering the Dutch television and streaming market for the first time.
The ACM investigated whether DPG Media would gain too powerful a position in the media landscape. The regulator asked critical questions to the parties involved in the largest takeover in the Dutch media landscape. There were concerns about the consequences for the accessibility, diversity and independence of online news if many news media were to fall under one company. The journalistic labor market could also be endangered.
The takeover has been approved under six conditions. For example, the websites and apps of NU.nl and RTL Nieuws must remain free and may not merge. NU.nl and RTL Nieuws, together with NOS, are the only major news titles that provide readers with free news. No content may be exchanged online between the two titles.
The ACM also wants the independent position of the editorial boards to be further strengthened. Therefore, the news titles of DPG Media, including NU.nl, must update their editorial statute. This protects the journalistic work and editorial independence of a news title. If DPG Media is sold in the future, the buyer will have to agree to maintain the editorial independence of the news titles.
“This is very good news for NU.nl,” says editor-in-chief Lindsay Mossink. “With these agreements, we know for sure that we can continue to inform our visitors about the latest news without barriers, free of charge and accessible. This is of great importance within this media landscape.”
“DPG Media always had the best interests at heart for our news title and the editorial team,” says Mossink. “Both are now extra protected. Of course, that gives confidence for the future.”
Foundations oversee the identity of NU.nl and RTL Nieuws
Independent foundations are involved in DPG Media titles de Volkskrant, Trouw and Het Parool, which oversee the identity, among other things. Such foundations will also be established for NU.nl and RTL Nieuws before the end of the year. The foundations will also play a role in the appointment of the editors-in-chief and ensure that NU.nl and RTL Nieuws remain separate.
RTL Nederland has been under the supervision of the Luxembourg media regulator since its inception. DPG Media wants to place the TV channel, like its own radio stations Qmusic and JOE, under Dutch supervision. All broadcasting activities of RTL Nederland must be under the supervision of the Commissariaat voor de Media within five years. Finally, it has been agreed that the sale of national news titles requires the approval of the Stichting Democratie en Media, which is a shareholder of DPG Media.
Previously, the ACM blocked the takeover of Talpa Network by RTL Nederland. According to the regulator, that takeover would lead to higher prices for television advertisements, among other things. These are costs that ultimately end up with the consumer.
In the takeover of RTL Nederland by DPG Media, the overlap in the field of online news played a major role. Due to the agreements made, the overlap does not have to cause problems in practice, the ACM concluded after extensive research.