The Dutch cabinet yesterday announced figures indicating that from 2013, Radio Netherlands Worldwide's annual budget will be reduced by 70 percent, from €46 million (US$65 million) to €14 million (US$19.77 million).
Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) issued a press release calling the plan "inconceivable".
General Director Jan Hoek said: "This radical reduction is both unnecessary and not part of the agreed government coalition programme. The Culture Ministry is opting for the cheapest solution".
"Without any preliminary research, nor any consultations, a decision has been taken that will leave a global audience of millions out in the cold, and will cost 250 jobs."
RNW currently broadcasts around the clock in 10 languages via radio, partner stations, websites and mobile telephones.
The cabinet announced last week that RNW should focus exclusively on bringing reliable and independent information to people in countries without press freedom.
Two of RNW's core tasks - providing information for Dutch people living abroad and presenting a realistic image of the Netherlands to the rest of the world - are to be scrapped. It is still unclear how much of the output in the remaining nine languages can be continued.
RNW has since sounded a global call to save its services, which has garnered support from prominent personalities from Richard Goldstone, former chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, to Argentinean Nobel Peace Laureate Adolfo Pérez Esquivel.
Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) issued a press release calling the plan "inconceivable".
General Director Jan Hoek said: "This radical reduction is both unnecessary and not part of the agreed government coalition programme. The Culture Ministry is opting for the cheapest solution".
"Without any preliminary research, nor any consultations, a decision has been taken that will leave a global audience of millions out in the cold, and will cost 250 jobs."
RNW currently broadcasts around the clock in 10 languages via radio, partner stations, websites and mobile telephones.
The cabinet announced last week that RNW should focus exclusively on bringing reliable and independent information to people in countries without press freedom.
Two of RNW's core tasks - providing information for Dutch people living abroad and presenting a realistic image of the Netherlands to the rest of the world - are to be scrapped. It is still unclear how much of the output in the remaining nine languages can be continued.
RNW has since sounded a global call to save its services, which has garnered support from prominent personalities from Richard Goldstone, former chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, to Argentinean Nobel Peace Laureate Adolfo Pérez Esquivel.
(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)
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