Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep

Infobox Network
network_name = Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
network_
country = Flag|Belgium
network_type = Broadcast radio, television and online
available = National
owner =
launch_date = 1930 (radio) 1953 (television)
founder =
slogan =
motto =
past_names = NIR (1930-1960),
BRT (1960-1991),
BRTN (1991-1998)
website = [http://www.vrt.be/vrt_master/vrt_en_homepage/index.shtml www.vrt.be]

The Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep (Flemish Radio and Television Network), or VRT, is a publicly-funded broadcaster of radio and television in Flanders (northern part of Belgium).

Between 1960 until 1991, VRT was called BRT (Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep). It is the successor of NIR (Belgisch Nationaal Instituut voor Radio-omroep), which was responsible for radio and television broadcasts from 1930 (and since 1953 for TV) until 1960. Politicians thought the name was no longer appropriate. BRT was only broadcasting Dutch language programs whereas RTBF was only broadcasting French language programs. That is why in 1991 the name BRTN (Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep Nederlandstalige Uitzendingen) was introduced. When the statute of BRTN changed in 1998 the name was changed to VRT.

This reorganisation changed the public broadcaster, since the TV monopoly and the creation of VTM, into a dynamic and powerful service that is currently (2008) the market leader. Part of the success is the use of external production houses such as Woestijnvis that created successful formats such as The Mole ("De Mol") and "Man Bijt Hond" (Man Bites Dog).

Since 1950 VRT is together with its French counterpart RTBF, a joint member of the European Broadcasting Union. EBU is the European organisation of public broadcasters that also organises the Eurovision Song Contest.

Television channels

Television channels are transmitted from:

* terrestrial antennas using UHF and VHF in B/G standard; digitally over DVB-T (in Flanders); PALplus transmission will end behind 2 & 3 November 2008.
* on cable: analog and digital on all Belgian cable providers and some cable providers in The Netherlands;
* on DSL lines they are available by Belgacom through IPTV;
* on Astra satellite as TV Vlaanderen Digitaal, an encrypted subscriber service.
* on satellite free-to-air worldwide as a participation in the Dutch/Flemish BVN-TV channel

Current channels

* één (Dutch: "one"), the main channel, formerly known as VRT TV1. Started in 1953 on VHF channel 10. In PAL color since 1971. In 1977 the transmission standard changed from Belgian 625 to European (CCIR) standard.
* Ketnet, the children's channel
* Canvas, the quality TV channel
* één+,Ketnet+,Canvas+, Additional content, occasionally available, through interactive digital cable only.
* één HD Planned from summer 2008 (Bejing Olympics), will be using the 720p standard.

"Ketnet" and "Canvas" share a single tv channel, the former broadcasting from noon till the early afternoon, and the latter in the evening and night. The channel, formerly known as BRTN TV2, started in 1977

Previous channels

* Sporza, the sports channelSporza was active as a separate channel during the summer of 2004, but has been removed from the air starting September 2004. Normal sports-programmes on the other channels now also carry the name "Sporza" due to the huge popularity of the channel. The radio station 927 Live for sports-programmes is now called Sporza. The online sports-news also goes by the name Sporza.

Radio channels

The VRT broadcasts radio channels in either analog format (FM and AM) and digital format (using DAB and DVB-T). All channels are also broadcast live over the Internet.

International broadcasting is done via VRT's Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal (RVi).

Analog and digital

* Radio 1, information and cultural channel
* Radio2, popular channel
* Studio Brussel, young and alternative channel
* Donna, young and popular music channel
* Klara, classical music channel
* Sporza, sports (radio & TV) [Sporza Radio only on Radio 1]
* Radio Vlaanderen internationaal (RVi), the channel for foreign people in Belgium and for Belgian people in foreign countries (AM only, on shortwave). Also on satellite in the BVN-TV multiplex

Digital-only channels

* Klara continuo, classical music radio channel without talks
* Donna HitBits, young and popular music channel without talks
* Nieuws+, latest news programme continuously repeatedThey also have a TMC service transmitted on Radio 2.

ee also

*List of television channels in Belgium
*List of radio stations in Belgium and Luxembourg
*Bert De Graeve, former CEO
*Tony Mary, former CEO

References

* April 16th [http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/?p=4472 'Belgian pubcaster to launch HD Channel'] via Broadband TV News

External links

* [http://www.vrt.be/vrt_master/vrt_en_homepage/index.shtml VRT Official website]
* [http://www.vrtnieuws.net news site of VRT (Dutch)]
* [http://vrt.rigolefamily.com VRT AUDIO]