Ketnet

Ketnet is a Flemish public-service children’s media brand operated by VRT, Belgium’s Dutch-language public broadcaster. It was introduced on 1 December 1997 when the former BRTN 2 service was divided into two distinct channels: Canvas and Ketnet. The launch followed concerns that the public broadcaster was not adequately serving children and young people, particularly viewers between roughly ten and twenty years old. Although BRTN had established successful programming for younger children, including titles such as Musti and Samson en Gert, its offer for tweens, teenagers and young adults had become comparatively limited while commercial competitor VTM was gaining audience share. The name Ketnet combines “net,” referring to a television network, with “ket,” an Antwerp dialect word for a child. At launch, the service was designed for a broad youth audience, initially concentrating on children aged four to fifteen. Its early schedule also included a late-afternoon and evening strand for teenagers and young adults before the service handed over to Canvas. This broader positioning allowed Ketnet to carry children’s programmes alongside youth-oriented entertainment, music, imported series and selected general-interest titles. During its first two weeks, the channel reportedly achieved an 8% share among twelve- to sixteen-year-olds after 6:30 p.m., a period in which VTM was showing The Simpsons. Ketnet gradually narrowed its editorial focus. In September 1999, its target audience was revised to children aged four to twelve, and the broadcaster stopped commissioning or acquiring new teenage-oriented programmes. Youth titles were phased out around the turn of the century, with Ultratop ending in 2000 and King of the Hill leaving the schedule in early 2001. The contemporary service is primarily aimed at children from approximately two to twelve years old, with separate preschool programming distributed under the Ketnet Junior label. A defining feature of Ketnet has been its combination of locally produced Flemish programmes and carefully selected foreign acquisitions. Long-running or widely recognized local titles have included Amika, Dag Sinterklaas, De Boomhut, Karrewiet, Kulderzipken, Mega Mindy, Samson en Gert, Spring and W817. News and factual programming, especially Karrewiet, have helped give the service a public-service role beyond entertainment. Ketnet has also developed its own formats rather than simply reproducing foreign models; Studio Ket, for example, was presented as an original approach to youth news and information rather than a direct version of the Dutch Jeugdjournaal. In April 2006, Ketnet underwent a major programming renewal. A substantial number of older recurring acquisitions and inherited titles disappeared from the schedule, reflecting a shift in audience strategy and presentation. The service later changed distribution arrangements: on 1 May 2012, Ketnet moved to a channel shared with OP12. After OP12 closed at the end of 2014, VRT continued distributing Ketnet within its evolving television and digital portfolio. Preschool content is associated with Ketnet Junior and has also been scheduled through VRT Canvas. Ketnet’s brand expression extends beyond scheduled television. Its continuity presenters, known as “Wrappers,” appear on screen between programmes and often host additional shows and events, giving the channel a recognizable personality for younger viewers. On 17 November 2007, Ketnet launched KetnetRadio, an online radio service with a rotating three-hour programme carried continuously, alongside daily refreshed programming. The brand also maintains an online presence through its website and digital children’s services. Ketnet’s French-language public-service counterpart is associated with Auvio Kids TV on La Trois, although Ketnet itself remains the Dutch-language Flemish service. Its present role is that of a trusted, locally rooted children’s media brand combining television, online video, n…

Ketnet emerged from a Flemish public-broadcasting policy response to changing audience behavior and competitive pressure from commercial television. Before its creation, BRTN offered children’s programmes through BRTN TV2, including successful content for under-tens. A study commissioned in the context of declining performance against VTM concluded that the broadcaster was not serving the wider youth audience effectively. Programming for tweens, teenagers and young adults had largely disappeared, even though these groups were strategically important for retaining viewers. The solution was a restructuring of BRTN 2. On 1 December 1997, the service was replaced by two branded services: Canvas, aimed at an older and more general audience, and Ketnet, a dedicated children’s and youth channel. The name was built around the idea of a children’s network, with “ket” drawn from Antwerp vernacular for a child. At launch, Ketnet served viewers from approximately four to fifteen years old. It also carried programming for teenagers and young adults during the late afternoon and early evening before handing the channel over to Canvas. The original schedule mixed Flemish productions with imported programmes. The local offer expanded quickly and included entertainment, fiction, factual programming, music and news. Among the titles associated with Ketnet’s early and continuing identity were Amika, Dag Sinterklaas, De Boomhut, Karrewiet, Kulderzipken, Mega Mindy, Samson en Gert, Spring and W817. The service also developed its own information formats. Studio Ket was described as an internally developed youth-news approach rather than a direct adaptation of the Dutch Jeugdjournaal. This helped establish Ketnet as more than a scheduling container for purchased cartoons and foreign series. The channel gained an early foothold among older children and teenagers. During its first two weeks on air, it reached an 8% share among twelve- to sixteen-year-olds after 6:30 p.m., when VTM was broadcasting The Simpsons. Nevertheless, the strategic direction changed in September 1999, when Ketnet revised its target group to four- to twelve-year-olds. New programmes for teenagers were no longer acquired, and youth-oriented titles were progressively removed. Ultratop ended on 31 December 2000, while King of the Hill was last broadcast on 12 January 2001. Ketnet’s programming identity continued to evolve. A major renewal in April 2006 removed many older recurring programmes, including a mixture of acquired series and titles inherited from the former BRTN TV2 schedule. This refresh reflected a move toward a more contemporary children’s offer and a clearer editorial identity. The channel’s continuity presenters, known as Wrappers, became important brand representatives because they introduced programmes, appeared between shows and hosted additional content. Digital expansion became part of the brand’s development. On 17 November 2007, Ketnet introduced KetnetRadio, an online station built around a three-hour programme loop carried throughout the day, with new programming produced daily. The service was presented by Ketnet personnel and made available through the Ketnet website. Ketnet subsequently broadened its digital presence through its website and online children’s content. Distribution also changed. On 1 May 2012, Ketnet moved to a channel shared with OP12. When OP12 closed on 31 December 2014, Ketnet remained within VRT’s wider portfolio of television and online services. Preschool programming is presented under the Ketnet Junior name and has been broadcast through VRT Canvas as well as associated digital outlets. The current brand therefore spans a principal children’s television service, preschool content, digital publishing and online audio. It remains a Dutch-language Flemish public-service brand rather than a commercial standalone media company.

1. 2014OP12 closes

   OP12 ends broadcasting on 31 December, changing the channel context in which Ketnet is distributed.

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2. 2012Channel distribution changes

   Ketnet moves to a channel shared with OP12 on 1 May.

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3. 2007KetnetRadio launches

   The brand expands into online radio with a continuous service available through its website.

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4. 2006Major programming renewal

   Ketnet refreshes its schedule and removes numerous older recurring programmes and inherited titles.

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5. 2001Teen-oriented programming phase-out continues

   King of the Hill is last broadcast on 12 January, following the earlier ending of Ultratop.

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6. 1999Audience focus shifts toward younger children

   The target audience is revised from four-to-fifteen-year-olds to four-to-twelve-year-olds, with teen programming gradually discontinued.

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7. 1997Ketnet begins broadcasting

   Ketnet replaces BRTN 2 alongside Canvas on 1 December, establishing a dedicated Flemish public-service children’s channel.

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A trusted Flemish public-service children’s media brand focused primarily on entertaining, informing and supporting children from preschool age through early adolescence.

• KetnetChildren’s television channel1997

  The core Dutch-language Flemish public-service television service, combining locally produced series, children’s news, factual programming, entertainment and selected imported productions. The service is now primarily directed at children from roughly two to twelve years old.

• Ketnet JuniorPreschool media service

  The preschool-oriented extension of the Ketnet brand. It provides programming and associated digital content for younger children, with broadcasts and distribution linked to VRT’s broader television and online services.

• KetnetRadioOnline radio2007

  An online radio service launched by Ketnet in 2007. Its initial format consisted of a three-hour programme loop carried continuously, with a new programme produced and broadcast each day.

• KarrewietChildren’s news

  A Ketnet news and current-affairs offering for children, representing the channel’s public-service role in explaining events and information to a younger audience.

• WrappersContinuity presentation

  Ketnet’s on-screen continuity presenters. In addition to introducing programmes, Wrappers present and participate in other channel content, giving the service a human and interactive identity.

• 2012Move to a shared channel with OP12Strategy

  VRT reorganized the distribution of its television services.

  What changed. Ketnet moved to a new channel position shared with OP12 on 1 May.

  Aftermath. Ketnet remained part of VRT’s television portfolio after OP12 closed at the end of 2014.

  Source
• 2006Major schedule and brand renewalStrategy

  The channel sought to refresh its programming identity and move away from a large number of older regular and inherited programmes.

  What changed. Ketnet undertook a major programming renewal in April, removing numerous older acquired and inherited titles from its regular schedule.

  Aftermath. The schedule became more clearly oriented toward a contemporary children’s audience, while locally produced titles remained central to the service.

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• 1999Narrowing the target audienceStrategy

  Ketnet initially served children as well as teenagers and young adults during parts of the evening schedule. The broadcaster subsequently chose a more focused children’s strategy.

  What changed. The intended audience was changed to approximately four-to-twelve-year-olds, and no new teenage programmes were purchased.

  Aftermath. Teen-oriented titles were progressively removed, including Ultratop in 2000 and King of the Hill in 2001.

  Source

• 2014OP12 closes, changing Ketnet’s distribution environment

  OP12 ceased broadcasting on 31 December 2014, after which Ketnet continued as part of VRT’s changing television and digital distribution structure.

  Other
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• 2012Ketnet moves to a channel shared with OP12

  The channel changed its television distribution position and began sharing a channel with VRT service OP12.

  Other
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• 2007Ketnet launches KetnetRadio

  Ketnet introduced an online radio service featuring a continuously repeated three-hour programme and daily refreshed programming.

  Product launch
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• 1999Ketnet narrows its target audience to younger children

  The channel revised its intended audience from a broad four-to-fifteen range to primarily children aged four to twelve, beginning the phase-out of new teen-oriented acquisitions.

  Other
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• 1997Ketnet launches alongside Canvas after the replacement of BRTN 2

  The new Flemish public-service children’s channel began broadcasting on 1 December 1997 as part of the reorganization of BRTN 2.

  Product launch
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1. Ketnet
2. Ketnet official website