AP News, September 17th, 2007
The Associated Press and the Dutch news agency Novum announced a strategic news partnership in the Netherlands on Monday.
Under the terms of the deal, Novum will acquire the AP's Dutch news service and its staff, continuing to translate AP's international report for Dutch newspapers, Web sites and commercial clients. Novum will also become sales agent for the AP's English-language news and photo service in the Netherlands.
"We're delighted with this exciting new partnership which will create a dynamic new service in the Dutch language," said Barry Renfrew, AP's vice president of Global Business for Europe, Middle East and Africa. "We are confident that the combination of AP's unmatched global coverage and Novum's strong local reporting will provide an excellent service for Dutch clients."
"I appreciate the trust that AP is placing in Novum in agreeing to allow us to continue the tradition of the Dutch service on its behalf," said Bram Bloemberg, managing director of the privately owned Novum, which was founded in 1999. "This gives us a stronger position in the Dutch market, which is a valuable development for both sides."
The agreement is to take immediate effect, and there will be no interruption in service to clients. Commercial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The Associated Press is a global news network, delivering news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the world's largest source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world's population sees news from AP.
The AP operates as a not-for-profit cooperative owned by its 1,500 U.S. daily newspaper members.
The AP's Dutch service began immediately after World War II when AP staffers in Holland received AP international news dispatches by Morse code from London, translated them _ often by candlelight in a city still short of power _ and delivered carbons of the report by bicycle to subscribers in Amsterdam.
In the decades since, the AP Dutch Service established a strong position in the Dutch media market.
