RTL and SBS, the two main Dutch commercial broadcasters, have backed plans to open up the cable networks to third party providers. The two say Dutch cablers are hampering their new media initiatives, including Catch Up TV and thematic channels, due to their dominant position in the television distribution market.
Both broadcasters have sent letters to the Dutch telecoms regulator Opta with their comments on the proposed opening up of cable networks.
At the moment, the Catch Up TV service from RTL is only available online and through the FttH provider Lijbrandt Telecom, not on Ziggo or UPC. And both SBS and RTL have so far refrained from launching thematic digital channels as they have not been able to reach carriage agreements with the cable operators.
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