Media News - Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Netherlands: Minister unenthusiastic on Internet tax to support ‘old media’

Media Minister Ronald Plasterk should introduce an Internet tax and give the proceeds to the newspapers, according to the Temporary Commission on the Future of the Press. But the minister reacted unenthusiastically to the recommendation produced Tuesday. The commission, headed by former Christian democratic (CDA) politician Elco Brinkman, fears the diversity of the media will decline. He wants to tax the Internet subscriptions of Dutch consumers by a few euros per year. This could yield about EUR 12m, with which the government should stimulate 'new initiatives from the press sector.' Plasterk has already made EUR 8m available for a press innovation fund. The Brinkman commission also advised Tuesday setting up a joint distribution company for all newspapers. It also wants the Temporary Media Concentrations Act abolished. This would make it easier for newspaper concerns to merge and take over one another's newspaper titles. The present law bars newspaper concerns from controlling more than 35 percent of the newspaper market. At the same time, the commission wants to make it possible for newspapers to partner public broadcasters, both at national and regional level. The broadcasters could then, for example, jointly develop new online services. The commission also considers the broadcasters should make their programme data available for free, to allow newspapers to add a TV guide. (NIS News)

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