Media watchdog plans fresh sanction for ON!
According to ON!, an online programme featuring a clip of Adolf Hitler is the reason, but the investigative report has not yet been made public.
The Commissariaat voor de Media plans to sanction Ongehoord Nederland again. The regulator has confirmed the proposed measure, but has not yet disclosed exactly which breach was established or what sanction will follow.
A spokesperson for the Commissariaat voor de Media confirmed to ANP on Saturday that a new sanction for ON! is being prepared. The measure follows an investigative report into an online programme by the broadcaster. That report has not been made public. As a result, it remains unclear which passages or practices the regulator assessed.
ON! director Peter Vlemmix has himself linked it to a programme in which a clip of Adolf Hitler was discussed. For now, that link has only been confirmed by the broadcaster. The Commissariaat has not said that the proposed decision relates exclusively or directly to that clip.
The issue comes on top of a long-running conflict over ON!’s position in the public broadcasting system. In September 2025, the Commissariaat fined the broadcaster €40,000 for two breaches concerning conflicts of interest and its own editorial statute. In September 2026, minister Rianne Letschert also began proceedings to withdraw ON!’s provisional recognition.
According to the Rijksoverheid, the minister based those proceedings on several established problems: the organisation’s structure and management, the spending of public money and compliance with rules. She also referred to a request from the NPO and two sanctions imposed by the Commissariaat within a year. The proceedings have not yet resulted in a final decision; ON! can respond and subsequently lodge an objection or appeal.
Important details about the new sanction are not yet available. It is not known whether it will be a fine, an order subject to a penalty for non-compliance or another measure. Nor is it clear when the decision will be taken or whether ON! will challenge it. As long as the report is not made public, the seriousness of the established breach cannot be assessed independently.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The Commissariaat is preparing a new sanction.
- The underlying report has not been made public.
- The minister has separately begun proceedings to withdraw the recognition.
Left
Arguments A public broadcaster that repeatedly breaches journalistic and governance rules must face consequences. Public money and reach create responsibility; oversight must not become powerless when breaches accumulate.
Values Reliable information, protection against the normalisation of extremist ideas and responsible use of public funds.
Consequences From this perspective, a mild measure may change little and further damage confidence in public broadcasting.
Centre
Arguments Regulators must act when demonstrable breaches occur, but substantive criticism must not degenerate into political interference in editorial choices. A public report, the right to be heard and judicial review are therefore essential.
Values Legal certainty, independent oversight and pluralism.
Consequences A careful procedure may take longer, but reduces the risk of a sanction later being overturned in court.
Right
Arguments A broadcaster with unpopular or sharply divergent views must also retain a place in the public broadcasting system. Sanctions must not be used to exclude a politically undesirable voice; only concrete breaches of the law should be decisive.
Values Freedom of expression, political diversity and government restraint towards the media.
Consequences A new sanction without a publicly substantiated report could be seen as arbitrary and deepen distrust of public institutions.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The reporting clearly distinguishes between confirmed procedural facts and the as-yet-unproven link to the Hitler clip. Because the report is unavailable, substantive assessment remains limited for now.
- confirmed The Commissariaat voor de Media is preparing a new sanction against ON!. — This was confirmed by a spokesperson to ANP. source
- confirmed The investigative report on the online programme is not public. — The available reporting states that the report has not been made public. source
- confirmed ON! says that the sanction is linked to a Hitler clip. — This is presented as a statement by ON! director Peter Vlemmix. source
- confirmed The minister began proceedings in September to withdraw ON!’s provisional recognition. — The Rijksoverheid describes the proposed decision and the proceedings. source
Editor's note
The proposed new sanction has been confirmed via ANP, but the report and the exact measure have not been made public. The link to the Hitler clip has been made only by ON!.Sources
- Commissariaat voor de Media wil ON! opnieuw sanctie opleggen om Hitler-uitzending — DagKern op basis van ANP
- Minister van plan erkenning Ongehoord Nederland in te trekken — Rijksoverheid
- Sanctiebesluit Ongehoord Nederland — Commissariaat voor de Media
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „ongehoord nederland”
- Het Parool — „ongehoord nederland”
- Trouw — „ongehoord nederland”