The Dutch media regulator Commisariaat voor de Media has enforced ‘must carry’ rules of Flemish radio and TV stations with KPN and the M7 Group.
The Media Act of 2008 requires all Dutch TV providers to carry certain channels, including three TV channels and a number of radio stations from Belgian Dutch language public broadcaster VRT.
Both KPN and the M7 Group had asked for an exemption from the requirement. The Commission rejected the request and threatened the companies with a fine if it did not comply.
So KPN has now started carrying a third VRT TV channel, Ketnet/Op 12, on the Dutch DTT platform Digitenne. As a result, the M7 Group, who acts as a reseller of the DTT service, has also complied with the enforcement.
In addition, the M7 Group also started carrying a number of VRT radio stations (VRT Klara, VRT Studio Brussel and VRT MNM), as well as Ketnet/Op 12 on its DTH platform Canal Digitaal.
Until now, these channels were not included in some of its tiers. The Group had argued that these packages were not subject to the ‘must carry’ requirement, but the Commission has ruled different.
