The public broadcasting sector should reduce its sport and entertainment output to make sure quality is not affected by pending spending cuts, Henk Hagoort, head of the Dutch public broadcasting authority, says in an article in Tuesday’s Volkskrant.

Major cuts in the public broadcasters’ budget are likely to be a part of the new coalition government’s plans and efforts must be made to make sure quality is not affected, Hagoort said.
For example, should the public broadcasters be spending money on Champions League football and amusement shows like Bananasplit? he asked.
Autonomy

‘We will have to discuss this in all fairness and openness,’ he said. ‘Even if it hurts broadcasters’ autonomous status.’
The Netherlands has 22 public broadcasting companies and airtime is spread across three tv and a number of radio stations. They are funded by the treasury and advertising. In addition, there is a handful of commercial Dutch stations, such as the RTL group and SBS.
Hagoort also says the number of public broadcasting companies could be reduced to seven or eight. Some, such as the KNR and NRCV, are already in merger talks.
Some insiders say the new government will chop €100m off the public broadcasters €750m annual budget.