Dutch public broadcaster NPO plans major channel closures, 80 job cuts

The Dutch public broadcaster NPO announced Thursday plans to discontinue four of its channels, including BVN, the international channel for Dutch viewers abroad. The move also affects NPO Campus Radio, NPO Soul & Jazz, and NPO 2 Extra, the broadcaster said. The plan also includes cutting approximately 80 full-time jobs across the organization.

The proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science as part of broader budget cuts expected in the coming years. “We make these choices with a heavy heart,” NPO chairman Lucien Brouwer said. “We realize this has an impact on our employees, creators, and the public. Yet we must take responsibility, and this is the next step toward a sustainable system.”

NPO said traditional linear channels for Dutch audiences abroad are no longer necessary due to the shift toward on-demand viewing. Programs currently broadcast on BVN and NPO Soul & Jazz will remain accessible via NPO Start. “The range of NPO programs without geographic restrictions currently on BVN can also be watched from abroad on NPO Start,” a spokesperson said.

Soul and jazz programming will move to NPO Blend, while new radio talent will have more opportunities on 3FM and FunX, the NPO added.

If approved, NPO Campus Radio and NPO Soul & Jazz would end on January 1, 2026. BVN and NPO 2 Extra are scheduled to stop broadcasting by December 31, 2026.