The Dutch regulator Commissariaat voor de Media is enforcing the ‘must-carry’ rules on KPN’s digital terrestrial service Digitenne.
Under the new Dutch media law, all platforms are required to carry the three Dutch national public TV channels (NPO), five Dutch national public radio stations, three Flemish public TV channels (VRT) and five Flemish public radio stations.
KPN has sought an exemption to the requirement to carry the third VRT TV channel, Ketnet/Op12, on the grounds of insufficient spectrum on its DTT network. However, the regulator has refused this and KPN now said it will start to carry the third VRT channel from October 1. KPN is appealing the decision of the Commissariaat.
The telecom operator is also appealing against the ruling that its IPTV service has to carry all regional and local public TV channels. All Dutch platforms have to distribute these broadcasters from January 1, 2015. Most cable operators already carry these TV channels.
