At the recent Paris Olympics the Netherlands belied its relatively small size by outperforming many bigger countries in the final medal table. Similarly, in the global TV industry, the country continues to punch well above its weight as an originator of internationally successful Unscripted formats. In the 12 months to end of June 2024, Dutch-originated formats accounted for 11% of all global format commissions, positioning the county as the third most significant player, after the UK and US. And while the overall volume of format-based unscripted commissions saw a reduction of six per cent globally during this period, the number of shows originally produced in the Netherlands rose by 22% year-on-year.

Legacy Dutch formats such as Banijay-owned Big Brother, ITV Studios-owned The Voice, and All3Media International-owned The Traitors continue to find new markets. In the 12 months to end of June 2024, the Netherlands’ Big Brother matched the UK’s MasterChef as the top-selling format outside its home market. During this period alone, the Big Brother format was commissioned six times and renewed 21 times across 13 territories internationally.

The success is complemented by newer Dutch-originated formats recently gaining international attention. Notable examples include Talpa Studios-owned The Floor, which has been sold to 13 territories outside the Netherlands since its release in the Netherlands in 2022, and Talpa’s The Quiz with Balls, which has been adapted by Fox in the US, RTL in Germany, and Atresmedia in Spain since its release in the Netherlands in 2023.

This success can be attributed to a number of factors. The Dutch commissioning landscape, dominated by cost-effective Unscripted content, has driven local producers to specialise in format production. As a small market with limited local opportunities, new Reality and Entertainment formats tend to be developed with an international audience and distribution prospects in mind. Part of this success can also be attributed to the current global commissioning landscape. With budgets tightening and a more risk-averse approach to content investments, commissioners are more inclined to turn to IP and formats already established as successful in other territories, further establishing the Netherlands’ position as a competitive producer of cost-effective Unscripted formats with broad international appeal.

Public broadcaster NPO emerges as the most prolific commissioning entity in the Netherlands, while commercial free-to-air networks Talpa TV and RTL Netherland leverage Unscripted Dutch formats to enhance their programming and engage local audiences with regular weekly offerings. In the 12 months to end of June 2024, Reality and Entertainment titles made up 79% of Talpa TV’s Unscripted commissions and 85% of RTL’s Unscripted linear commissions, with the remaining commissions distributed among Documentary, Comedy, and News and Current Affair titles.

Since the sale of production arm Talpa Media to ITV Studios, and Talpa founder John de Mol’s subsequent separation from ITV Studios in 2015, the production arm of Talpa Network rebranded as Talpa Studios. Under that banner it continues to see international success with innovative Unscripted Reality and Entertainment formats such as Marble Mania, Million Dollar Island, and Camping the Wilderness.

Ampere clients can read a more detailed report on commissioning in the Netherlands here.