NMa Closes Investigation into Endemol

During its preliminary investigation into the position and practices of Endemol, NMa found no evidence from which it appeared that the television producer had infringed the Competition Act. NMa has therefore closed this investigation.

The reason for the investigation was a broadcast of the news programme, Reporter. In this programme, mention was made of large discounts that Endemol received as a 'large user' when purchasing facility services, which it supposedly did not pass on to its customers, the television stations. In addition, Endemol was accused of conditional sales. As a television producer, it was alleged that Endemol was only willing to provide television broadcasting companies with certain programmes in combination with other programmes. Reporter inferred from this information that Endemol possibly had abused its dominant position.

The programme gave NMa cause to investigate whether Endemol had in fact infringed the Competition Act. No evidence of this was found in the material gathered by NMa and from the interviews with the various parties involved.