Television in the Netherlands was officially introduced in 1951. In the Netherlands, the television market is divided between a number of commercial networks, such as RTL Nederland, and a system of public broadcasters sharing three channels, NPO 1, NPO 2, and NPO 3. Imported programmes, as well as news interviews with responses in a foreign language, are almost always shown in their original language, with subtitles.
Canal+ is a French premium television channel launched in 1984. It is 100% owned by the Groupe Canal+, which in turn is owned by Vivendi. The channel broadcasts several kinds of programming, mostly encrypted. Unencrypted programming can be viewed free of charge on Canal+ and on satellite on Canal+ Clair (Clear). The channel does not broadcast advertising, except when broadcasting on free-to-air slots. Almost all foreign films and series are broadcast in their original language with French subtitles on a secondary audio channel and dubbed in French or in French. All the programs of the group's channels are subtitled in French for the deaf and hard of hearing and the visually impaired also have access audio description for some programs.
CanalDigitaal is a provider of digital television via satellite for the Dutch market, using the Astra satellites at 23.5° east.
RTL Z is a Dutch business and financial news television channel. It displays economic changes and the stock exchange news in a banner at the bottom of the screen in the daytime. In the evenings the programming consists of documentaries.
Groupe Canal+ (Canal+) is a French film and television studio and distributor. It is owned and controlled by Vivendi and has a film library in excess of 5,000 films. Vivendi has sold some parts of Canal Plus to private investors which are still using the name of Canal Plus. It is headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, in the suburbs of Paris.
The Dutch version of Nickelodeon, broadcasting in the Netherlands and through satellite in Belgium, and launched on 14 July 2003. In addition to the general Nickelodeon programmes, original productions such as ZOOP, Het Huis Anubis, and SuperNick are also broadcast. The Dutch Kids' Choice Awards were presented in three years, featuring nominees that are relevant to Dutch audiences. In 2010, the US Kids' Choice Awards aired, which included categories for the Netherlands and Belgium inserted into the broadcast.
Ziggo Sport Totaal is a Dutch premium television service operated by Ziggo and owned by VodafoneZiggo, a joint venture between Liberty Global and Vodafone. Ziggo Sport Totaal launched as Sport1 with its sister service Film1 on 1 February 2006 and replaced the Canal+ Netherlands channels. Film1 was sold to Sony Pictures Television on 21 July 2015, while Sport1 remained Liberty Global-owned. At launch the service consisted of two main channels, six extra channels and one HD simulcast of the first main channel. On 2 February 2009 the number of extra channels was reduced to four. The extra channels only broadcast when necessary to live broadcast multiple sport events at the same time. The service was rebranded to Ziggo Sport Totaal on 12 November 2015.
The Netherlands now has three major forms of broadcast digital television. Terrestrial (DVB-T), Cable (DVB-C), and Satellite (DVB-S). In addition IPTV services are available. At the end of the first quarter of 2013 almost 84% of the households in the Netherlands had some form of digital television.
Film1 is a Dutch premium television and video on demand service that replaced Canal+ and is owned by SPI International.
FilmNet was the name used for several premium television channels in Europe during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. It was launched on 9 March 1985, broadcasting with a focus on Scandinavia, the Netherlands and the northern part of Belgium (Flanders). Filmnet channels were later launched in Poland and Greece.
Film1 Action is a Dutch premium television channel owned by SPI International. Its main focus is on thriller, action and horror films. Film1 launched together with its sister service Sport1 on 1 February 2006 and replaced the Canal+ Netherlands television channels. Film1 offers multiple channels with Dutch and international film and television series productions. On 1 October 2008 Film1 launched Film1 Action.
Comedy Central Family was a television channel broadcasting comedy TV series. It launched in the Netherlands as a joint venture between Viacom International Media Networks and Endemol. It featured both foreign acquisitions and Dutch series from the Endemol libraries.
Comedy Central is a Dutch free-to-air television channel based on the American channel of the same name. The channel is available on cable, digital terrestrial, IPTV, and satellite operators in the Netherlands. It broadcasts many imports as well as original programming. There is another, 24 hours a day broadcasting, Comedy Central channel available in the Netherlands, named Comedy Central Extra. This channel is only available as pay TV.
Stingray Brava was a cultural television channel originated in the Netherlands, owned by the Stingray Group in Canada. The programming consisted of opera, ballet, and concertos. Productions were recorded in opera houses such as the Royal Opera House, the Teatro Real, and La Scala. The productions consisted of stage performances such as La bohème, Otello, Aida, Swan Lake, Tosca, Zoroastre and Così fan tutte.
Film1 Premiere is a Dutch premium television channel owned by SPI International. It is the flagship channel of the premium television service Film1. Film1 launched with its sister service Sport1 on 1 February 2006 and replaced the Canal+ Netherlands television channels. Film1 offers multiple channels with Dutch and international film and television series productions. Films are first shown on prime time on Film1 Premiere. On 25 February 2011, Film1.1 was rebranded as Film1 Premiere.
Film1 Family is a Dutch premium television channel owned by SPI International. Its main focus is on comedy and children films. Film1 launched together with its sister service Sport1 on 1 February 2006 and replaced the Canal+ Netherlands television channels. Film1 offers multiple channels with Dutch and international film and television series productions. Film1.2 rebranded into Film1 Family on 25 February 2011. Film1 Family changed into Film1 Comedy & Kids on 6 September 2013 but on 1 September 2016 it changed back to Film1 Family.
Film1 Festival, formerly known as Film1.3, was a Dutch premium television channel owned by Chellomedia, the European content division of Liberty Global. On 1 March 2012 the channel was replaced by Film1 Sundance. Its main focus was on arthouse films and international productions. Film1 launched together with its sister service Sport1 on 1 February 2006 and replaced the Canal+ Netherlands television channels. Film1 offers multiple channels with Dutch and international film and television series productions. On 25 February 2011 Film1.3 was rebranded into Film1 Festival. On 31 January 2012 Film1 announced that Film1 Festival would be replaced by Film1 Sundance on 1 March 2012.
Joyne was a provider of digital television via satellite for the Dutch and Flemish market, using the Eutelsat's 9B satellites at 9°E east. Joyne is a combination of the words Joy and Join. For most channels a smartcard was required to decrypt the Conax signal. On 9 April 2021 Joyne went bankrupt. Bankruptcy was requested by Eutelsat. On 19 April 2021 it was announced Canal+ Luxembourg took over certain assets. Customers will be offered to move to Canal Digitaal and TV Vlaanderen's offer. Some channels offered formerly by Joyne will continue broadcasting on Eutelsat 9B at least till 31 july 2021. Some other channels including channels owned by Discovery have ceased broadcast on 19 April 2021.
Fox Life is an international pay television network, launched by the Fox Networks Group in 2003, which aired across Southeast Asia. The network's scheduling varied with each version, ranging from traditional entertainment programming, including television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, original programming in certain regions, and instructional and aspirational reality television on some other variations; in North America for instance, the network carried mainly Spanish language dubbed versions of American reality shows.
