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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