DutchNews.nl - 'Internet users should pay newspaper tax'

'Internet users should pay newspaper tax'

Tuesday 23 June 2009

Internet users should pay an extra tax on their subscriptions to boost newspaper finances, a government committee said on Tuesday.

The committee was asked by media minister Ronald Plasterk to look at ways to preserve the diversity of the Dutch press, which has been hit by falling subscriptions, partly due to the rise of online news sites.

The committee was headed by Elco Brinkman, chairman of the construction sector organisation.

TV magazines

But Brinkman did not make any suggestions to end the dispute over the way public broadcasters compete with newspapers in operating news-based websites.

Newspapers accuse the public broadcasters of unfair competition because the latter are funded by taxpayers and do not have to make a profit.

Plasterk has already announced that €8m of the hundreds of millions of euros generated by advertising on public tv and radio channels will be used to stimulate newspaper innovation.

And the government is to pay for 60 promising trainee journalists to work at the big newspapers.

The committee also recommended giving newspapers a free reign to produce their own television guides.

At the moment, only broadcasting companies are allowed to publish full tv schedules. The Telegraaf in particular has long wanted to publish its own tv magazine.

Would you be prepared to pay a higher internet fee to help newspapers? Take part in our poll.

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Readers' comments

Offer both for a fee, print and electronic media. If you do not subscribe then you can view a selected few stories, if you do, then you see the entire print copy. The newspaper industry is a bit slow to embrace this logical alternative. They could increase fund and use less paper product. A win win situation, good for the environment and good for the news industry.

By Paul Martin | June 23, 2009 12:21 PM

And make every car driver pay a tax to horse and carriage operators! The world moves on, if newspapers can't or won't adapt, they will be consigned to history, tax or no tax.

By Craig | June 23, 2009 12:42 PM

craig!! i share the same view with u.I think every DVD buyer should be tax to be given to VHS operators. The world is moving in the direction of digital so is better they move with it or the should open a big museum to keep them.

By kwabena | June 23, 2009 1:34 PM

And with if I don't not read Dutch web sites and never have susbscribed to Dutch newspapers. Why should I fund them?

By Quest | June 23, 2009 2:26 PM

Paul, subscription-based models don't work. Online content providers tried that back in the dot-com day then switched to ad-driven and alternative revenue streams when they realised how much of a disincentive it was. Showing a cut-down version of each story isn't an incentive to pay either. Look at Twitter. People are increasingly happy to settle for more succinct reading matter.
The reason the press is looking for greater investment is because people are choosing to use their laptops and smartphones to access content. Aside from newsagencies, teenage paperboys and cultural-luddites, I don't see who benefits from trying to perpetuate a dying medium.
The newspaper industry needs to re-focus on online/mobile business models, capitalise on their brand-strength and get with the programme.

By brownStick | June 23, 2009 4:02 PM

I don't need news at all... May be they should their energy and time for something else..

By samjohn | June 23, 2009 4:11 PM

Craig, I wish they see your comment, ofcourse if they understand it. I couldn't agree more.

By Michael | June 23, 2009 4:32 PM

This idea is the least of our worries; after all, one can opt out of subscribing to a newspaper thus avoiding subscription tax.

But pretty soon, they will follow Britain and France with a general internet tax, using the 'justification' of providing internet homes in rural areas, or funding state broadcasters, with the proceeds.

By osita | June 23, 2009 6:05 PM

Times change, so should the newspapers.

By Robert | June 24, 2009 3:09 AM

How about the costs that are saved: printing, delivery and the environmental benefits? I think online newspapers should be stimulated.

BTW, I'll just stick to Dutchnews and subscribe to Aljazeerah and other foreing news broadcasters.

By Kira | June 24, 2009 8:04 AM

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