The Dutch minister of culture Marja van Bijsterveldt has submitted a new media distribution law to parliament.
The new law will replace certain sections of the media law concerning the distribution of radio and TV signals.
Until now, only traditional cable operators were regulated by law, now all platforms will fall under the same regulations, e.g. the satellite DTH provider Canal Satelliet Digitaal, DTT platform Digitenne and the IPTV services.
At the same time the traditional system of local programme councils for cable operators will be abolished. It will be replaced by a minimum package of 30 digital channels.
There will be a transitional period during which current providers, that do not carry the 30-channel minimum, will be exempt for a number of years. This includes Canal Digitaal, who sells a very basic bouquet of just ten channels and DTT platform Digitenne that only has a capacity of 25 channels.
The number of must-carry channels will be increased with a third Flemish public channel; must carry will now include the three Dutch national broadcasters, three Flemish ones and all local and regional pubcasters.
After parliament passes the law, the Senate will also have to accept the new rules.
