Omroep NTR

The Nederlandse Programma Stichting (NPS, 'Dutch Program Foundation') is a Dutch government-funded radio and TV broadcasting foundation. In the Dutch public TV systems (Publieke Omroep) broadcasters do not have their own stations but get allotted time on one of the three public stations, usually based on the amount of members. NPS, however, does not have any members. The NPS was created in 1995, after a separation of the NOS. NPS took over NOS's culture, information, minorities and youth programmes, NOS restricting itself on bringing the news.

In the summer of 2005, plans have been presented by the cabinet Balkenende II to renovate the broadcasting system. In the process, the NPS would be abolished by 2007. This was met with rather fierce resistance because the programmes they air have a dedicated (and fairly sizeable) group of viewers. The idea was that other stations would take over what NPS does, but there is little confidence among viewers that that will happen. There has been speculation that the reason this right-wing cabinet wants to abolish NPS is that it is too left-wing. However, about half of their shows are produced in cooperation with the two left-wing broadcasters VARA and VPRO. If these were to take over those shows (including the rather popular political shows Nova and Buitenhof), these might actually become really left-wing.

Late 2005, the plans for abolishing the NPS were still alive, though after many protests it was agreed that the programmes would all be transferred to the national broadcasting organisation NOS - meaning the staff of the foundation would remain intact and the programmes be continued.