The Buyers' Agenda - Holland
- Published: 15 October 2007 12:24
- Last Updated: 15 October 2007 12:27
Executives from the TV market in Holland reveal what programmes and formats work well on their channels.
Erland Galjaard
RTL5 programme director
“RTL5 is a young, edgy, contemporary channel which targets 20 to 34 year-olds. Shows we acquire that work well are Kitchen Nightmares, Brat Camp, America’s/Britain’s Next Top Model (pictured) and Ladette to Lady – as well as US series CSI and Prison Break. Most ready-made formats come from the US and UK – things like That’ll Teach ’em, Jamie’s School Dinners, The Swan and Project Runway. Dutch versions of Top Model, Brat Camp (Van Etter tot Engel) and My Restaurant Rules (Mijn Tent is Top) work well.”
Rozan Hamaker
SBS acquisitions manager
“SBS6 is our flagship family-oriented channel which broadcasts a lot of local productions and a few big US series such as House. Net 5, which is female-skewed, is also strong in local drama and reality production but makes use of more US acquisitions than SBS6 – notably Desperate Housewives and Cold Case. BBC Worldwide’s Top Gear is a hit on Veronica while C4’s Grand Designs works well for SBS6 at the weekend. We always keep an eye out for UK factual entertainment but don’t want to be pitched shows similar to what we already have.”
Mignon Huisman
NOS acquisitions department
“The change in our channel profiles [see NOS, above] has been accompanied by moves to centralise our acquisitions department. That has simplified the system a lot and undoubtedly helped us top the ratings towards the end of 2006. For Ned1, I buy a lot of British crime dramas. I also look for costume dramas for Ned2 (Jane Eyre, Elizabeth I). British content is popular. We would probably buy more US drama and films if we could, but our commercial rivals have bigger budgets and are better positioned for studio output deals.”
