WORLD PRESS TRENDS - World Association of Newspapers

NETHERLANDS
Advertising expenditure
(Euro millions, in current prices)
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Newspapers 424 484 518 606 651 715 676 666 649 661 671
Magazines 284 308 331 352 376 433 447 438 438 449 462
Television 740 783 875 985 1,176 1,376 1,426 1706
Radio 121 148 192 217 246 309 293 328
Cinema 10 9 8 11 12 14 14 14
Outdoor 103 107 114 120 130 146 151 164
Internet 0 0 0 0 0 27 25 21
Total 1,687 1,843 2,044 2,291 2,589 3,019 3,031 3,337 3,234 3,323 3,405
Source: 1995-2000 VEA; 2002 BBC/VEA; 2001, 2003-2005 ZenithOptimedia
Notes: Excludes production costs and agency commission, includes classified, after discounts
The measurement methodology changed in 1998, hence the large change in figures that year
Research
Circulation is audited by: Het Oplage Instituut (HOI)
Readership is measured by: SUMMO Scanner ended in July 2001.
It will be replaced in 2003 by the readership research of the
joint industry committee National Onderzoek Multimedia
(NOM).
Taxes
VAT on: sales 6% advertising 19%
newsprint 19% plant 19%
composition 19% (standard VAT rate 19%)
Profits are taxed at 30% up to Euro 22,689 and 34.5% thereafter;
newspapers are treated no differently from other businesses.
Subsidies
There are no direct subsidies. However, newspapers and
magazines may apply to the Press Fund for subsidies for new
ventures.
Discounts
on: post 0 rail 0 telephone 0 telegraph 0 telex 0
Ownership
Does any law exist governing publishing-house ownership, or the
registration of shares in newspaper-publishing companies Since 1
January 1998 new general Competition Legislation has applied
to ownership and market behaviour.
Is there any law prohibiting or restricting foreign companies or
individuals from owning shares, and in particular, the majority of
shares, of domestic daily newspapers No
Is there any law prohibiting daily newspaper or periodical publishers
from operating radio or television stations in the same locality
Publishers are free to invest in commercial radio and TV at the
regional or local level, provided that frequencies or cable
channels are available.
So as to guarantee disclosure and transparency in the capital structure
and to avert silent partnerships, is there a law or rule making it possible
to determine who actually owns a publishing company Owners of
more than 5% of the capital stock must declare their shares.
Is there an antitrust law limiting concentration in the daily press
Since 1 January 1998 the new general Competition Law has
made the sector’s self-regulation code redundant. The
Competition Authority must be notified of any merger in which
participating companies have a combined turnover of over
Euro 113.5 million. Approval will depend on assessment of
market position (no actual levels have been mentioned in the
Law).
Is further regulation of media concentration expected The
government is debating the role of newspaper regulation, but
has produced no firm proposals.
WORLD ASSOCIATION OF NEWSPAPERS - WORLD PRESS TRENDS 2003 205