Following an in-depth investigation, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets has cleared the acquisition of RTL Nederland by DPG Media. Clearance was conditional on remedies to ensure media plurality. The transaction is largely complementary and brings together DPG Media’s national and regional newspapers, online news, magazines and radio stations in the Netherlands with RTL Nederland’s commercial television stations, online news and video streaming.
The ACM considered theories of harm in buying markets for journalistic and news agency services, advertising markets and news markets. RBB carried out economic analyses to assess conglomerate effects in advertising markets, potential effects on quality and choice in news markets and plurality of online news articles using text analysis.
An RBB team led by Theon van Dijk
Theon van DijkPartner and Alexander van Oeveren
Alexander van OeverenAssociate Principal assisted Loyens Loeff and DPG Media throughout the ACM’s assessment.
