The Dutch Minister of Media, Rianne Letschert, has initiated the formal process to revoke the broadcasting license of Ongehoord Nederland (ON!), according to De Telegraaf. The move follows a ruling by the Dutch media regulator, the Commissariaat voor de Media, which concluded that the broadcaster's license should be withdrawn.
Letschert stated that she is obligated to revoke ON!'s license following the regulator's assessment, as reported by the Reformatorisch Dagblad. The minister's decision marks the first concrete step toward removing the broadcaster from the public system, a process that NU reports could ultimately take ON! off television.
The development is the culmination of a long-running dispute between ON! and the Dutch public broadcasting authority (NPO). The broadcaster, known for its critical stance on established media and political institutions, has repeatedly clashed with regulators over its editorial practices and compliance with public broadcasting rules.
According to NOS, the end appears near for ON!'s place within the public broadcasting framework, and the question now is how the organization's departure will unfold. De Telegraaf notes that ON!'s removal immediately creates a new complication for the NPO, which must manage the allocation of airtime and resources previously held by the broadcaster.
ON! has not yet publicly responded to the minister's announcement. The broadcaster retains the right to appeal the decision, which could prolong the process. The coming weeks will show whether Letschert's move withstands legal scrutiny or whether ON! manages to delay its exit from the public system.
