February 24, 2009

By By T.J. Lammers, Amsterdam

Dutch nationwide radio stations Arrow Classic Rock and Arrow Jazz FM have had their broadcast licenses revoked by the Dutch government's Telecom Agency, due to the lack of payment of FM license fees.

Both stations have been ordered to stop broadcasting no later than midnight, March 11t. Head of the Telecom Agency Marita Schreur claims payments by the owners of both stations have been in arrears since May 2007.

"Also our intention to revoke the broadcast license has not led to payment of the amounts due," she said. "That is why the Telecom Agency feels obliged to revoke the licenses."

Arrow Classic Rock, which has an audience share of 2.5 %, owes ?6,852,500 ($8,709,822) for the right to broadcast over its FM frequency. Its sister station Jazz FM is ?2,039,120 ($2,591,809) in arrears.

In an email to the industry, Arrow managing director Ad Ossendrijver refuses to accept the loss of his FM frequencies. "We are in talks with the Department of Economic Affairs to find a solution," he said. "We expect to reach an agreement shortly."

Ossendrijver added that Arrow has been around for 12 years and has fought hard for its FM distribution. "We won't let them take that away from us just like that," he said. We trust you'll support us in this."

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