The first reactions to the new VRT management agreement are pouring in. Green Member of Parliament Elisabeth Meuleman denounces the ‘mistrust’ of the VRT in the agreement. The five Flemish private media players note in a joint press release that the VRT will act in ‘sector-strengthening’. ‘We reach out to the VRT to keep that promise.’
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“The savings made by the Flemish Government will continue unabated,” says Meuleman, in response to the new management agreement between the VRT and the Flemish government. ‘All in all, no less than 25 million euros must be saved by 2025. On the other hand, the VRT must make the digital transition and innovate. The VRT must reach young people, promote women’s sports, focus on diversity, but also promote the Flemish identity. The VRT has to do a lot more, but with a lot less resources. ‘
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According to Meuleman, the agreement also radiates suspicion and interference. ‘It is evident that after the devastating audits there will be a check on the expenditure. But that pendulum should not blow either. There must be several opinions about a topic on the VRT channels. I read this as a vote of no confidence. Ten times a year, regardless of news or interpretation programs, paying attention to moments of commemoration about the Flemish identity or the strict control of impartiality also go too far. ‘
The same sound can be heard with SP.A. “The focus on the neutrality of the public broadcaster worries me,” says Flemish MP Katia Segers. ‘There is a distrust here with regard to the excellent editorial staff of the VRT.’
In a joint press release, the five CEOs of private media players in Belgium emphasize the sector-strengthening role that the public broadcaster should play. ‘In this management agreement, VRT is very clearly instructed to keep the local media ecosystem strong,’ it sounds. ‘In our view, this means working together as much as possible with other market players, disrupting the market as little as possible and strengthening it where possible. That is a positive signal, and also seems to us to be the only right attitude in these very challenging times for the entire media sector. ‘ At the same time, there is concern about the great scope that the VRT will be given, according to private players, for the elaboration of a digital offering and bringing in advertising income.
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