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The planned takeover of RTL Netherlands by DPG Media has been postponed for the time being. The Authority Consumer & Market (ACM) has not yet given its approval and is not yet convinced of the necessity of the merger. Therefore, the regulator is organizing a hearing in which DPG Media can explain its position in more detail. Other market parties will also have the opportunity to give their views during this hearing.
The takeover process has been going on for a year and a half now, since the announcement in December 2023. The ACM has not publicly commented on the progress of the investigation since the beginning of 2024, but says it needs more time. The regulator makes no substantive announcements about ongoing cases.
Earlier, the ACM expressed concerns about a possible impoverishment of the Dutch news offer in case of a merger of the two media companies. According to the watchdog, approval could only follow under strict conditions that guarantee the diversity, scope and quality of the news.
Additional concerns were raised in the annual press freedom monitor. The merger would create a media conglomerate with a dominant position, which could have negative consequences for the journalistic labor market and editorial independence.
Nevertheless, RTL and DPG remain optimistic. RTL Group announced in its annual report that it is confident that the ACM will still approve the sale in the second quarter of 2025.
The Netherlands Union of Journalists (NVJ) shows understanding for the ACM's cautious attitude. General secretary Thomas Bruning states, "We understand that the ACM is going through this process carefully. In our view, there are currently still guarantees missing in terms of freelancers, editorial capacity and the preservation of journalistic pluralism."
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