WORLD PRESS TRENDS - World Association of Newspapers

BELGIUM
Advertising expenditure
(Euro millions, in current prices)
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Newspapers 260 257 299 322 395 407 281 344 367 383 395
Magazines 219 212 214 238 248 245 258 265 275 280 290
Television 393 409 500 656 691 782 811
Radio 100 111 122 134 154 186 202
Cinema 17 16 21 23 25 25 28
Outdoor 129 139 149 158 159 162 173
Internet 0 0 0 2 7 13 18
Total 1,118 1,144 1,305 1,532 1,679 1,821 1,770 1,902 1,974 2,036 2,119
Source: 1995-2001 ACP, MediaMark Belgium, 2002-2005 ZenithOptimedia
Notes: Includes agency commission, before discounts, excludes production costs and classified advertising
Research
Circulation is audited by: CIM
Readership is measured by: CIM
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with a sample of 10,000
people.
Taxes
VAT on: sales 0 advertising 21%
newsprint 21% plant 21%
composition 21% (standard VAT rate 21%)
There is a 40.17% tax on profit; this is the normal tax rate for all
companies.
Subsidies
Are there any direct subsidies The government ended direct
subsidies for Flemish newspapers (which had been Euro 0.89
million, per year) at the beginning of 1998. Walloon newspapers
still receive subsidies of Euro 1.44 million a year.
Amount of direct subsidies
Direct subsidies
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Total in Euro (million) 1.44 1.44 1.44 1.44 1.44
Source: Association Belge des Éditeurs de Journaux
Discounts
on: post ( 1 ) rail 75% ( 2 ) telephone 50% ( 3 )
telegraph 0 telex 0
1
The special postal rates for newspapers and magazines cover
a wide range of publications, including dailies, weeklies, and
monthlies. It should be noted that non-commercial publications
are subject to lower rates than newspapers.
2
Transport of journalists.
3
On the transmission of editorial copy within Belgium.
Ownership
Does any law exist governing publishing-house ownership, or the
registration of shares in newspaper-publishing companies No
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 In
the French community, local television stations may not form
profit-making associations. Local radio stations can be run as
commercial companies, but a person cannot hold more than
24% of a private radio station, nor can they process information
for more than one private radio station within the same
geographical area. In the Dutch community, local radio and
television stations may only form non-profit associations, and
they must be independent from political parties and commercial
companies.
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 No
Is there an antitrust law limiting concentration in the daily press
The Law of August 5 1991, which governs restrictions on
economic competition, forbids any action that might impede
competition in a specific market or a large section of that market.
The Law of August 5 1991 applies to all sectors of the Belgian
economy with no specific provisions for the press.
Is further regulation of media concentration expected No
WORLD ASSOCIATION OF NEWSPAPERS - WORLD PRESS TRENDS 2003 63