Provisional recognition as an aspiring broadcaster
On 31 March 2021, it was announced that Zwart had reached the 50,000 members required to be eligible for admission to the NPO.[4] In July 2021, this broadcaster received provisional recognition from minister Arie Slob.[5] It was announced that Zwart will be able to broadcast on Dutch public television from 2022 and that it was provisionally recognized as an aspiring broadcaster. This recognition is valid until 2026. In November 2021, Zwart made an online marathon broadcast.[6]
Programmes
Since 2022, Zwart has been broadcasting programmes on the Dutch public broadcasting system. Initially, the broadcaster was allowed to air De nacht is Zwart ('The Night Is Black') on the public radio two nights a week, and has a regular segment on Giel Beelen's programme on NPO Radio 2. The first television programme, Podium Zwart on NPO 3, a late-night music and culture programme presented by Glen Faria [nl] and Veronica van Hoogdalem [nl], was aired on 27 May 2022. The premiere, on a Friday night, only attracted 23,000 viewers.[7]
Founder Akwasi faced criticism for his speech at a Black Lives Matter protest on the Dam Square in Amsterdam, in which he promised to kick Zwarte Piet characters in the face. During an interview with EO presenter Hans van der Steeg, he took the laptop of the editorial team and forced the recording of the conversation to be removed.[14] Akwasi later apologized during an interview.[15]
