ACM attaches strict conditions to acquisition of RTL Nederland by DPG Media
                  

                
                                  






  







  



  
    
              
        
        
      
      
                        
          

Summary

ACM has attached strict conditions to the acquisition of RTL Nederland by DPG Media.
These conditions ensure that the acquisition will not have any negative effects on media pluralism.
News consumers will continue to be able to choose from different independent news sources.


  

  

    
      
          

      

  


                

  
    
            

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has cleared the acquisition of Dutch media company RTL Nederland (RTL) by DPG Media (DPG). However, DPG does need to comply with an extensive set of conditions. These conditions ensure that the acquisition will not have any negative effects on media pluralism, and that news consumers continue to have access to sufficient independent news sources. In its assessment, ACM took into consideration that, as a result of the rise of social media, the news landscape is undergoing major changes. In addition, given the strategy of RTL’s parent company, it is highly uncertain that the current situation will persist.


Martijn Snoep, Chairman of the Board of ACM, adds: “A pluriform news landscape plays a crucial role in our democracy. DPG and RTL are major competitors in the media sector. This acquisition cannot lead to a reduction in media pluralism. News consumers must continue to be able to choose from different, independent news sources. With these conditions, we have safeguarded that.”


DPG and RTL are major competitors on the news market in the Netherlands. DPG publishes various newspapers, such as Algemeen Dagblad, de Volkskrant, Trouw, and Het Parool. In addition, DPG owns free news websites, including NU.nl. RTL Nederland has several commercial television stations. In addition, RTL offers video streaming service Videoland. RTL also offers free news through its television channels, its website rtl.nl, and in the RTL Nieuws app.
Set of conditions


ACM has attached structural conditions to the acquisition of RTL by DPG. These conditions will remain in place indefinitely, even if DPG (or parts thereof) are acquired by another competitor in the future:
Independent foundations


RTL Nieuws and NU.nl will each have, as a co-shareholder, a foundation with priority shares. These foundations will watch over the missions and identities of RTL Nieuws and NU.nl. These priority shares offer the foundations veto powers over:

Hiring and firing the editor-in-chief
Implementing changes to the mission and identity
Seling and ending the broadcast/publication of RTL Nieuws and NU.nl



Directors of these foundations are independent. These two foundations are also charged with enforcing several conditions that have been attached to this acquisition. Both foundations will receive sufficient funding from DPG for their duties.


Democracy & Media Foundation (SDM)


In addition, the rights of the Democracy & Media Foundation (in Dutch: Stichting Democratie en Media, or SDM) will be expanded. SDM is a shareholder of DPG, and is committed to well-functioning, pluriform journalistic media. As a result, DPG cannot sell or end national news brands without SDM approval.
Accessibility of free online news


The news sites of RTL and NU.nl continue to be freely accessible. No paywalls can be created as a result of which free online news would disappear. RTL Nieuws and NU.nl will continue to operate as separate news brands. Both news sites will continue to be created by separate, independent newsrooms, which will not exchange any content (including video) or data. In its app and on its website, RTL will not use content from other DPG-owned national news brands on a structural basis. In that way, RTL’s identity will remain intact.
Editorial independence


DPG will tighten the editorial statutes of all of its news brands in order to strengthen editorial independence.

The procedure regarding the editorial budget, among other things, will be explained in greater detail in the editorial statutes. For example, the editorial staff can turn to a specially created committee if the editorial staff and management disagree about the budget. This committee subsequently hands down a binding recommendation.
In addition, the editorial statutes will stipulate that the editorial staff (or editorial board) decides independently on what is published, what the composition of the editorial board is, with whom journalistic collaborations are struck, and to what extent the news content is personalized on the website or in the app. In that context, newsrooms do not exchange any data.

Charter


DPG will draw up a DPG Media Charter, with which all directors, supervisors, and current, future, direct and indirect shareholders of the DPG group commit themselves to important journalistic principles. The goal of this charter is to mandate current and future shareholders (including foreign shareholders) of DPG to respect at all times the governance structure and, more specifically, the editorial independence, and to safeguard a pluriform and diverse media landscape. This charter cannot be amended without the approval of the foundations within the DPG group.
RTL Nederland to fall under Dutch oversight


DPG will have RTL Nederland fall under Dutch oversight by the Dutch Media Authority (CvdM), thus no longer falling under Luxembourgish oversight.
Investigation into the effects on journalists, the advertising market, and news agencies


On the basis of the investigation, ACM does not expect any negative effects on the bargaining positions of both salaried journalists and freelance reporters, compared with the current situation. Journalists will continue to have multiple alternatives to DPG and RTL. In addition, DPG and RTL are not close direct alternatives to each other for journalists: journalists rarely switch from DPG to RTL or vice versa. Moreover, RTL makes limited use of freelance reporters. Finally, journalists are able to negotiate collectively about their terms of employment, thereby creating countervailing power.


ACM does not expect advertisers to be confronted by price increases after the acquisition. Both RTL and DPG offer advertising space, but mostly through different media channels that do not compete directly with each other. RTL particularly focuses on television and online video, whereas DPG is strong in print and online display ads. Within each media channel, multiple alternatives continue to be available for advertisers.


In the investigation, other media companies expressed concerns that they would have a harder time generating advertising revenues than they do today. After the acquisition, DPG will own a broad selection of media channels, and, as a result, might be more attractive to advertisers. However, ACM’s investigation has revealed that the business models of other media companies will not be jeopardized as a result of the acquisition.


Finally, ACM sees no risks that, following the acquisition, DPG will be able to force price reductions for news services of Dutch news agency ANP that subsequently lead to price increases for other media companies, and, by extension, to reductions in quality of their news selections.
Oversight over media mergers


The media sector is of vital importance for the functioning of Dutch democracy. That is why the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) is currently working on a specific assessment for media mergers, which is based on European legislation that has not yet come into effect in the Netherlands. At the moment, ACM is the only regulator that is able to assess media mergers. ACM can block a merger only if it restricts competition, for example by having negative effects on the quality of news selections, which includes media pluralism. The media sector currently also does not fall under the scope of the law for assessments of mergers for risks to national security (in Dutch: Wet veiligheidstoets investeringen, fusies en overnames, or Vifo). In that context, think of the risk of acquisitions by foreign media companies with political motives, which may form a threat to democracy. ACM has called for the attention of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ) to this.
Assessment with care


When assessing this acquisition, ACM considered all interests (sometimes opposing interests) and opinions with great care. For example, advice had been sought from various stakeholders, and an extensive investigation had been carried out, including among news consumers in the Netherlands. When assessing the effects on media pluralism and drafting the conditions, ACM used the recommendations from the Dutch Media Authority (CvdM). All input from interested parties have been taken into consideration, including the input provided during a hearing.


This illustration shows the structure of the independent foundations that will watch over the missions and identities of the news brands, after the acquisition of RTL Nederland by DPG Media.

      

                
  
  


  
                    



      



                        







  
    
      
      Transcript of text above image

      
    
  

  
  




        
                      

This illustration shows the structure of the independent foundations that will watch over the missions and identities of the news brands, after the acquisition of RTL Nederland by DPG Media.


The image shows the foundations: De Volkskrant, Stichting Het Nieuwe Parool, Stichting ter Bevordering van de Christelijke Pers in Nederland, and the new independent foundations for RTL News and NU.nl.


These foundations are co-shareholders of the news brands illustrated below, in addition to DPG Media.


The image shows Dutch news brands: Algemeen Dagblad, Volkskrant, Parool, Trouw, RTL Nieuws, and NU.nl.


The rights of the Democracy & Media Foundation (in Dutch: Stichting Democratie en Media, or SDM) will be expanded. As a result, DPG cannot sell or end national news brands without SDM approval.

        
      
    

  

    
          
                                          
                                  
                                      See also
                      
    

27-06-2025  Summary of concentration decision (in Dutch) 18-07-2024  DPG Media, RTL Nederland Holding and RTL Nederland Media Services apply for an acquisition license (concentration notification) | ACM (in Dutch13-06-2024  Further investigation needed into acquisition of RTL Nederland Holding and RTL Nederland Media Services by DPG Media (concentration decision) | ACM (in Dutch)23-05-2024  DPG Media cannot acquire RTL Nederland Holding and RTL Nederland Media Services just yet (final notification) | ACM (in Dutch)17-05-2024  ACM: further investigation needed into acquisition of media company RTL by rival DPG | ACM09-02-2024  DPG Media wishes to acquire RTL Nederland Holding and RTL Nederland Media Services (concentration notification) | ACM (in Dutch)
            
                                  
                                
                  

                
          
          
          Publication characteristics
          
                                    
                Publication date
                27-06-2025
              
                      
                                    
                Publication type
                  News

              
                      

                      
              Spokesperson
              
                                    Rick van Tol

                              
            
          
                                    
                Decision date
                  27-06-2025


              
                      

          
                          Case
                              
                  Case number:
                  ACM/24/189955
                
                                                            Parties
                DPG Media B.V.
RTL Nederland Holding B.V. 
RTL Nederland Media Services S.A
                                    

                                    
                Keywords
                  Mergers and acquisitions

              
                      
                                    
                Subjects
                  Competition

Strict Conditions Set for DPG Media's Acquisition of RTL Nederland

The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has given the green light for DPG Media's acquisition of RTL Nederland, contingent upon a series of stringent conditions aimed at preserving media pluralism. These measures are designed to ensure that news consumers retain access to a variety of independent news sources amidst the evolving media landscape influenced by social media.

Martijn Snoep, Chairman of ACM, emphasized the importance of a diverse news environment for democracy, stating that the acquisition should not diminish media pluralism. DPG and RTL are significant competitors in the Dutch media market, with DPG owning several newspapers and free news websites, while RTL operates commercial television stations and a video streaming service.

Among the conditions imposed, two independent foundations will be established as co-shareholders of RTL Nieuws and NU.nl, granting them veto powers over key editorial decisions, including the hiring of editors and changes to the mission of these news outlets. This structure aims to maintain the integrity and independence of the news brands.

Additionally, the Democracy & Media Foundation's rights will be expanded, preventing DPG from selling or discontinuing national news brands without its approval. The news websites of RTL and NU.nl will remain freely accessible, and both will operate as separate entities with independent newsrooms, ensuring no content or data exchange occurs between them.

DPG is also required to enhance the editorial independence of its news brands by clarifying procedures regarding editorial budgets and decision-making processes. A DPG Media Charter will be established to commit all stakeholders to uphold journalistic principles and protect the governance structure.

Furthermore, DPG will bring RTL Nederland under Dutch oversight, shifting from Luxembourgish regulation. ACM's investigation concluded that the acquisition would not adversely affect journalists' bargaining positions or lead to price increases for advertisers, as both companies operate in different media channels.

ACM has called for a more comprehensive regulatory framework for media mergers, highlighting the sector's critical role in democracy. The authority has carefully considered various stakeholder interests and conducted extensive investigations to ensure that the conditions set forth adequately protect media pluralism.



Strict Conditions Set for DPG Media's Acquisition of RTL Nederland

The Dutch competition authority, ACM, has approved DPG Media's acquisition of RTL Nederland but imposed strict conditions to protect media pluralism and ensure independent news sources remain available.