BVN

BVN
Country	Belgium; Netherlands
Ownership
Owner	NPO & VRT

BVN which is the abbreviation of Het beste van Vlaanderen en Nederland (The best of Flanders and the Netherlands) is a satellite and cable television channel – a joint venture by the public broadcasting companies from the Netherlands and the Flemish part of Belgium, Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO) and Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep (VRT); which aims to make Dutch and Flemish public-service television output in the Dutch language available to viewers around the world. From 1996 until 2012 also Radio Nederland Wereldomroep (RNW) was involved as a founding partner, but that organisation has obtained another task from the Dutch government from 2013.

The channel was started in 1996 as Zomer-TV (Summer-TV), an operation aimed at making Dutch-language programming available to Dutch and Flemish holidaymakers abroad. All of its programming originally came from the Netherlands (the abbreviation BVN at first standing for het Beste Van Nederland, "the best of the Netherlands") but this was later adapted, once the Flemish Region of Belgium began contributing both financially and with output from the schedules of VRT, to het Beste van Vlaanderen en Nederland: "the best of Flanders and the Netherlands".

BVN has grown to became a major international channel with a coverage that is increasingly worldwide as it becomes available in more and more countries each year.

In March 2007 BVN changed its scheduling from three 8-hour programming blocks to two 12-hour blocks: this provided more room for the inclusion in the schedules of such popular Dutch-language prime-time shows, such as "Pauw & Witteman" and "De Wereld Draait Door".

Programming

All programmes are replayed during the second 12-hour block, running from 0100 to 1300 CET daily.

News and current affairs

BVN broadcasts daily news bulletins from VRT and NOS. The 1pm and 7pm editions of VRT's Het Journaal are transmitted on a short time delay at 1300 and 1905 CET from Sunday to Friday. The 1900 bulletin is broadcast from 1915 on Saturdays. The main 2000 bulletin from NOS Journaal is broadcast at 2030 CET and features a specially produced international weather forecast (BVN-Weer). A short bulletin is also carried at 1600 CET on weekdays and at 1605 on weekends.

Current affairs output on weekdays consists of the magazine programme EénVandaag (One Today) at 1830 CET, Nieuwsuur (Newshour, which incorporates an NOS Journaal bulletin) and Terzake (To The Point) at around midnight CET. EénVandaag is produced by independent pillar broadcasters (AvroTros) while Nieuwsuur is co-produced by NOS and the NTR. Terzake is produced by VRT.

On Sundays, BVN carries a delayed broadcast of VRT's current affairs magazine De Zevende Dag (The Seventh Day) at 1330 CET followed by the political talk show Buitenhof at 1530.

Topical debate and entertainment programmes also feature in the schedule including De wereld draait door (The World Keeps Turning) at 1940 CET and Pauw & Witteman at around 2330 CET. Both programmes are off-air during the summer.

Sport

NOS produces 15 minutes sports news bulletins called Sportjournaal on weekdays along with Studio Sport, a longer sports news and highlights programme on Saturday nights. The sports magazine show Holland Sport is broadcast periodically on Saturday afternoons. During the football season, Eredivisie highlights are broadcast in NOS's Studio Sport on Saturday nights & Sunday evenings.

VRT's sports coverage is featured daily within short sports bulletins on Het Journaal at 1300 and 1900. On Sundays throughout the year, the 1910 Het Journaal bulletin is shortened to 20 minutes to allow for a half-hour round-up entitled Sportweekend to follow at 1930. During the football season, the 1300 bulletin on Sunday features an extended goals round-up from the Jupiler League (Belgian First Division).

Children

BVN features a daily block of children's programming, consisting of new and archived programming from various pillar broadcasters in the Netherlands, NPS, the NPO children's television stations Z@pp as well Z@ppelin and the VRT children's television station, Ketnet.

Dedicated news and current affairs output for children is also broadcast at weekends, including a weekly current affairs programme Schooltv-weekjournaal, on Saturdays and a news review, NOS Jeugdjournaal Overzicht (NOS Youth Journal Overview), on Sundays.

Features and entertainment

BVN's daily schedule features entertainment, documentaries and features output.

Programming includes documentary series Memories, the quiz show Blokken (Blocks), variety show Mooi weer De Leeuw and the long running sitcom F.C. De Kampioenen (F.C. The Champions) as well as various music specials.

Drama

The station broadcasts the VRT serial Thuis (At Home) and BNN's serial ONM on weekdays throughout the year (except during the summer).

BVN also broadcasts a number of popular drama series and serials including Kinderen van Dewindt (Children of Dewindt), Flikken (Cops) and Witse.

During the summer, BVN transmits movies from the Netherlands and Flanders on Saturday nights.

External links