Kassa (television program)

Kassa (which means "Cash register" in Dutch) is a consumer TV program transmitted by the Dutch TV broadcast organization VARA.

Since 1989 the program is presented by Felix Meurders, who is also the designer of the formula.

All broadcasts can also be (re-)viewed on the internet. And on top of that there is a daily show called "Consumentennieuws" (consumer news) that can also only be viewed on the Internet.

The weekly TV program lasts about an hour and always treats several subjects. Dutch consumers can mail complaints they have about particular goods or services, and then Kassa investigates their complaints, shoots a small "documentation" about the investigation and then shows this documentation for a life audience, after which a discussion can ensue with the audience and with one or more experts in the field of the investigated subject and (if they want) a representative of the investigated product manufacturer or service provider.

After 2005 the VARA started with a half an hour "extension" of the TV program that can only be viewed on the Internet.

Other recurring parts of the program are "Belbus" and product comparisons.In the segment "Klachten Top 3" (Top three of complaints) often the same telecoms and energy companies return for a review, so these companies are often investigated.

On September 29, 2007 Kassa won the "Prix Italia 2006", an international prize which is awarded for the best website of all the broadcasting companies worldwide. This because of the interactive part of the site where consumers can discuss the problems they have with consumer goods. The jury was also pleased with the technical implementation of the site. Other contenders where the websites of the ARD, BBC and RAI.

Earlier, in 2004, the VARA also received the Dutch "Spin-Award" prize from the general public in the Netherlands.

Since Main 8, 2007 the VARA also broadcasts the TV program "Kassa 3". This is also a consumer program, but it is more geared to the youth.

The VARA also transmits a daily radio program called "Radio Kassa", which lasts half an hour and is filled with, often humorous, consumer news.

External links

* [http://kassa.vara.nl Kassa (official website in Dutch)]
* [http://www.spinawards.nl/?mod=voorgaande&year=2004 Spin Awards (in Dutch)]
* [http://www.prixitalia.rai.it/index.htm Prix Italia (in Italian)]