Dutch subscribers to digital television services have the right to at least 30 channels in their basic bouquet.
The rule is part of the new Media Law, which is currently being prepared by minister of culture and education Maria van Bijstervedt.
The amendment is meant to stop service providers from presenting a stripped-down standard package in order to promote more expensive deals. The amendment will also see the elimination of local programme councils. The minister sent a letter to Parliament on December with the proposals.
Kabelraden.nl, the association of the councils, has issued a protest against the proposal, claiming that with the new Media Law viewers will lose influence on the choice of channels they get from their local operator.
