Two major media outlets in the Dutch-speaking world have joined forces as Flanders’ DPG Media buys up RTL Nederland
DPG Media, the Flemish group that operates TV channel VTM as well as publishes multiple newspapers and magazines – including Het Laatste Nieuws, De Morgen and Humo – has bought RTL Nederland from the RTL Group for €1.1 billion. The deal has been in the making for some 18 months and has now finally been approved by the Dutch competition regulator ACM.
RTL Nederland operates several television channels (RTL 4, RTL 5, etc) and the Videoland streaming service. The takeover is happening under strict conditions, laid down by the competition authority.
‘Own identity’
RTL Nieuws, for instance, must remain free and continue to operate independently of NU.nl, the Dutch news site already owned by DPG. The name RTL must be retained on all current RTL products until at least 2034. No employees at RTL will be made redundant.
The rules were handed down by the Dutch regulator in order to ensure that consumers and advertisers in the Dutch-speaking market still have adequate choices. “RTL will not on a structural basis begin publishing news content directly from any DPG titles,” said the regulator in a statement. “This will ensure RTL retains its own identity.”