The Netherlands: Organizational Transformation, a Means to Do More with Less?

Abstract

Despite two successive waves of serious cutbacks, the Dutch public service broadcaster NPO remains firmly rooted in the domestic media landscape. Although the young-adult segment mostly favours other platforms, Dutch public broadcasting still reaches sizeable sections of the audience. As is the case in most Western European countries, mixed funding remains the norm for the NPO. In contrast to most European public service broadcasters, the public portion of NPO’s financial resources come from a government grant and not from a licence fee paid by all households. The extent of the commercially derived revenue is high in comparison to other public broadcasters. Notwithstanding fierce attacks and attempts to curtail its offering over recent years, the NPO continues to adhere to a holistic, linear and digital broadcasting mission that ranges from entertainment and sport to information, education and culture. Furthermore, the NPO has made great strides in achieving a suitable balance concerning the transparency of its reports with respect to its ‘owners’, the taxpayers, and market players.