The acquisition of RTL Nederland by DPG Media appears to be nearing approval, following new commitments by the Belgian media group to safeguard editorial independence.
RTL Group announced during its quarterly results that it expects the Dutch competition authority, ACM, to approve the deal within the next six weeks, likely before the end of the current quarter.
According to Dutch financial daily Het Financieele Dagblad, DPG Media has offered to keep the newsrooms and websites of RTL Nieuws and Nu.nl strictly separate for at least ten years, addressing concerns about media plurality.
The proposed acquisition had been under intense scrutiny, especially after a previous merger attempt between RTL Nederland and Talpa was blocked by ACM. The regulator had raised concerns that the consolidation of major news outlets could undermine the diversity and quality of news coverage in the Netherlands.
While ACM has not yet officially confirmed its position, RTL remains optimistic. DPG Media has declined to comment, and the regulator is still conducting its final assessment. If approved, the deal would mark a major step in the consolidation of media power in the Low Countries, with DPG Media further strengthening its presence in the Dutch market.
