VTM Kids

VTM Kids is a Belgian children's television brand associated with the Flemish VTM network and operated by DPG Media. The name is used primarily for a children's programming block carried on VTM, while it was also used for a dedicated linear television channel between 2018 and January 2023. Its programming is aimed at children and families in the Flemish-speaking market and combines locally produced Flemish shows with acquired animated, preschool, adventure, comedy and live-action series. The brand developed from vtmKzoom, a children's channel launched on 1 October 2009. VtmKzoom initially operated as a dedicated service and also supported a digital extension, VTMKzoom+, which offered continuous programming to eligible digital television subscribers. As the VTM network adjusted its children's strategy, programmes returned to the main VTM channel in morning slots from 2015. The morning broadcasts initially appeared only on weekends, but became daily from July 2017. From October 2017, the VTM morning children's block adopted the VTM Kids name and incorporated repeats from vtmKzoom and Kadet. A more substantial channel reorganization followed in December 2018. The former vtmKzoom and Kadet services were replaced by VTM Kids and VTM Kids Jr. The main VTM Kids service inherited much of the general children's catalogue, while VTM Kids Jr. was intended for toddler and preschool audiences. This arrangement was short-lived. DPG Media announced in January 2020 that VTM Kids Jr. would be merged into VTM Kids; the junior service was subsequently replaced by CAZ 2 in March 2020. VTM Kids continued as a linear channel until 9 January 2023, when the dedicated service ceased broadcasting. Its role was not entirely discontinued: children's programmes continued in the VTM Kids morning block on VTM and remained available through the VTM GO streaming platform. The linear channel position was replaced by the FAST service VTM Non-Stop, initially branded VTM Non-Stop Dokters and focused on medical dramas. VTM Kids therefore shifted from a standalone television channel toward a multiplatform programming brand within VTM's broader broadcast and streaming ecosystem. Its schedule has included Flemish productions from companies such as Studio 100, Seamonster and Sultan Sushi, alongside internationally acquired series. Local and familiar properties associated with the schedule have included Kabouter Plop, De Wereld van K3, Booh, The Voice Kids and music-oriented vtmKzoom programmes. Imported programming has included titles such as Pokémon, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Fireman Sam, Thomas & Friends, Teletubbies, Maya the Bee, Danger Mouse, The Adventures of Puss in Boots and Transformers: Cyberverse. The brand's overall positioning has been broad children's entertainment rather than a narrowly specialized preschool or educational service.

VTM Kids traces its roots to vtmKzoom, a Belgian children's channel launched on 1 October 2009. The original service was created to provide children's programming within the VTM broadcasting environment and was supplemented by VTMKzoom+, a continuously available digital channel distributed through Telenet Digital TV. VTMKzoom+ was offered as a paid service from launch, although it was removed from new Telenet package offerings in 2013 except for subscribers who retained an older children's package. The digital service closed on 1 June 2016. VTM gradually brought children's programming back to its main channel. From 15 February 2015, children's shows were broadcast on VTM during morning periods, initially on weekends. The schedule became daily on 3 July 2017. On 2 October 2017, the morning block was renamed VTM Kids and carried repeats and other material originating from vtmKzoom and Kadet. This change made VTM Kids both a programming identity on the flagship VTM service and a successor brand to the earlier children's-channel structure. On 22 December 2018, vtmKzoom and Kadet were replaced by two new services, VTM Kids and VTM Kids Jr. The general VTM Kids channel received much of the former children's catalogue, whereas toddler and preschool content was directed to VTM Kids Jr. The split did not last permanently. On 22 January 2020, DPG Media announced plans to merge the junior service into VTM Kids. VTM Kids Jr. was replaced by CAZ 2 on 2 March 2020. VTM Kids remained available as a linear channel until 9 January 2023. On that date the standalone channel ended, but the brand continued through a morning programming block on VTM and through VTM GO. The former linear channel position was used for VTM Non-Stop, initially presented as VTM Non-Stop Dokters and focused on medical drama programming. The change reflected a move away from a dedicated linear children's channel while retaining children's content in scheduled and on-demand forms. The catalogue has combined Flemish and international programming. Local suppliers and producers mentioned in connection with the schedule include Studio 100, Seamonster and Sultan Sushi. Flemish titles have included Kabouter Plop, De Wereld van K3, Booh, The Voice Kids, My Name is Michael and several vtmKzoom music and chart programmes. Acquired content has covered preschool animation, family comedy, action-adventure and animated franchises, including Pokémon, Fireman Sam, Thomas & Friends, Teletubbies, Maya the Bee, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Danger Mouse, The Adventures of Puss in Boots and Transformers: Cyberverse. Across its various forms, VTM Kids has served as a broad Flemish children's entertainment brand rather than as a single permanent channel format.

1. 2023Standalone VTM Kids channel ends

   The linear channel ceases broadcasting on 9 January, while the brand continues on VTM and VTM GO.

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2. 2020VTM Kids Jr. is consolidated

   Following DPG Media's January announcement, VTM Kids Jr. is replaced by CAZ 2 on 2 March and its programming is merged into VTM Kids.

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3. 2018VTM Kids and VTM Kids Jr. replace earlier channels

   VtmKzoom and Kadet are replaced by VTM Kids and the preschool-oriented VTM Kids Jr. on 22 December.

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4. 2017Daily VTM children's broadcasts begin

   The children's schedule on VTM expands from weekend mornings to every day from 3 July.

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5. 2017VTM Kids block launches

   The VTM morning children's block adopts the VTM Kids name in October.

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6. 2016VTMKzoom+ closes

   The digital VTMKzoom+ service ends on 1 June.

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7. 2015Children's programming returns to VTM mornings

   VTM resumes children's programming in morning slots, initially on weekends.

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8. 2009Launch of vtmKzoom

   The children's channel vtmKzoom begins broadcasting in Belgium on 1 October.

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9. 2009VTMKzoom+ digital service introduced

   A 24-hour digital extension becomes available through Telenet Digital TV as a paid children's service.

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A Flemish children's entertainment brand offering a broad mix of local and international programming across broadcast and digital platforms.

• VTM Kids programming blockTelevision programming block2017

  The current form of the brand is a children's programming block carried during morning hours on VTM. It preserves the VTM Kids identity after the dedicated linear channel closed and presents a mixture of repeats, acquired series and children's entertainment for the Flemish audience.

• VTM KidsChildren's television channel2018

  The VTM Kids linear channel operated as a general children's service from December 2018 until 9 January 2023. Its schedule included Flemish productions and imported animated, preschool, comedy and adventure programmes. The channel has since ceased broadcasting as a standalone service.

• VTM Kids Jr.Preschool television channel2018

  VTM Kids Jr. was the preschool-focused companion to VTM Kids. It separated toddler and early-childhood programming from the broader children's schedule, but was consolidated into VTM Kids in 2020 and no longer operates as a separate service.

• VTMKzoomChildren's television channel2009

  VtmKzoom was the predecessor children's channel from which the VTM Kids identity developed. It launched in 2009 and was replaced during the 2018 channel reorganization.

• VTMKzoom+Digital television service2009

  VTMKzoom+ was a 24-hour digital extension of vtmKzoom distributed through Telenet Digital TV. It operated as a paid or package-based service and closed in June 2016.

• 2023End the standalone linear channelStrategy

  The VTM network adjusted its linear channel portfolio while retaining children's programming on its main network and streaming platform.

  What changed. The VTM Kids linear channel ceased broadcasting on 9 January 2023. Its programming continued in the VTM Kids block on VTM and on VTM GO.

  Aftermath. The former channel position was replaced by VTM Non-Stop, initially branded VTM Non-Stop Dokters, shifting VTM Kids toward a broadcast-block and on-demand model.

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• 2020Merge VTM Kids Jr. into VTM KidsStrategy

  DPG Media announced that the separate junior channel would be consolidated into the broader VTM Kids service.

  What changed. VTM Kids Jr. was replaced by CAZ 2 on 2 March 2020, with its children's programming moved into VTM Kids.

  Aftermath. The VTM children's offer returned to a single principal VTM Kids channel identity.

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• 2018Replace vtmKzoom and Kadet with VTM Kids servicesStrategy

  The VTM children's channel portfolio was reorganized to provide a general children's service alongside a separate preschool-oriented service.

  What changed. On 22 December, vtmKzoom and Kadet were replaced by VTM Kids and VTM Kids Jr.

  Aftermath. Most general children's programmes moved to VTM Kids, while toddler and preschool content was assigned to VTM Kids Jr.

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• 2017Adopt the VTM Kids identity for VTM morning programmingStrategy

  VTM had resumed children's programming on its main channel and expanded the broadcasts to every day. The earlier vtmKzoom and Kadet catalogues provided programming for the schedule.

  What changed. The morning children's block was renamed VTM Kids from October 2017.

  Aftermath. The name became the principal identity for the network's children's offer and later extended to a dedicated channel.

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• 2023VTM Kids linear channel ceases broadcasting

  The dedicated VTM Kids linear channel stopped broadcasting. Children's content continued in the VTM morning block and through VTM GO, while the channel position was replaced by VTM Non-Stop.

  Product generation
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• 2020DPG Media announces merger of VTM Kids Jr. with VTM Kids

  DPG Media announced that VTM Kids Jr. would be consolidated into VTM Kids. The junior service was replaced by CAZ 2 in March 2020.

  Product generation
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• 2018VTM Kids and VTM Kids Jr. replace vtmKzoom and Kadet

  The former children's services vtmKzoom and Kadet were replaced by VTM Kids and the preschool-oriented VTM Kids Jr. as part of a restructuring of the children's channel portfolio.

  Product generation
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• 2017VTM Kids morning block introduced on VTM

  The children's programming carried on VTM adopted the VTM Kids name after daily morning broadcasts were introduced and the schedule incorporated programmes from vtmKzoom and Kadet.

  Other
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1. VTM Kids
2. VTM Kids official website