Commercial radio stations have to bid again for frequencies – Financieele Dagblad (Registration)

Permits for commercial radio stations will be auctioned to the highest bidder for a ten year term. That proposal, Minister of Economic Affairs Henk Kamp Friday. However, it is not yet certain whether this is a parliamentary majority.

“With an auction market can determine the right price ‘ Kamp said. Many existing transmitters had just hoped for a direct award of broadcasting frequencies. An auction to take place no later than 2017, especially in favor of the wealthiest parties.

Kamp believes, however, that the auction best way to serve the fast-changing media market and the needs of listeners. The rules apply to restricted licenses. Now apply for some permits have detailed requirements in terms of programming, such as mandatory attention to jazz and oldies.

A secure licenses with fewer conditions and long duration gives companies more opportunities to innovate and take, “says Kamp after the weekly cabinet meeting Friday.

The suggestion that the government wants to raise a lot of money for the treasury with the auction system was rejected by deputy prime minister Lodewijk Asscher during the weekly news conference. Or a parliamentary majority for the plan’s Camp wanted Asscher (PvdA) do not say. This is subject to uncertainty because it is precisely the Labour Party has voted against an earlier auction.

The last time the ether frequencies were auctioned off to commercial radio stations was in 2003. After the licenses in 2011 for another underhand extended. In addition, the stations were obliged to invest in digital terrestrial radio (DAB +). This requirement, the nationwide stations also met

Currently, there are six different companies active in the national FD-plots:. Telegraaf Media Group with Sky Radio and Radio Veronica; Talpa with Radio 538 and Slam FM; De Persgroep with Q-Music; Radio Radio Corp. with 10% and 100 GB; FD Media Group with BNR; Sublime and FM as an independent organization.

According to the EU directive radio frequencies should be divided among many parties as possible. Therefore, a company in the Netherlands was allowed to operate at the most so far two national FM plots. In addition, the State must promote mutual competition among radio stations. Kamp wants these conditions apply less stringent.

Critics fear that only a handful of large media conglomerates such as TMG, the Persgroep and Talpa will together bidding for all national FM plots and remain the players empty-handed.

Kamp, however, that the new auction additional digital frequencies become available for both newcomers and existing players. “There is no limit to the number of frequencies that a company can buy,” says the press release. ‘Detailed program requirements lapsed except news and Dutch.