In the Netherlands, television can be watched analog or digital (the latter with the option of HDTV or 3D). Over 2013, 78.3% of Dutch viewers received television digitally. Watching analogue television can only be done via most cable operators and some Fiber to the home providers, since the Dutch government ended reception via airwaves in 2006. Watching digital television is possible through a variety of ways, the most common being:
Digital television over cable (in most cases through a Set-top box with a smart card or through a Conditional-access module).
Ziggo is the major suppliers of cable television in the Netherlands.
Satellite television
CanalDigitaal is the only satellite provider.
Digital terrestrial television
KPN Digitenne is the only terrestrial provider.
Internet television (IPTV)
KPN (subsidiaries Telfort and XS4ALL) and Tele2 are the two major suppliers of IPTV.
Fiber to the home
KPN is the major operator of FTTH with its subsidiaries KPN Glasvezel, Glashart and Reggefiber.
Which television channels can be received is heavily dependent on the operator and in most cases also the channel package that is paid for. However, there is a small selection of channels that every operator must carry. Since 2014, these are the following channels:
NPO 1
NPO 2
NPO 3
Eén (Flanders (Belgium))
Canvas (Flanders (Belgium))
Ketnet (Flanders (Belgium))
Regional (provincial) broadcasters (when available)
Local broadcaster (when available)
The Netherlands has three nationwide channels for publicly funded television (NPO). These channels can only make a fixed maximum amount of money from commercials. These commercials never interrupt broadcasts, and are only shown in between shows. The broadcasting organisations that use these channels are basically representative of the Dutch society. Every broadcasting company has members and the number of members gives them a status that is connected to the number of hours of broadcasting. If you are planning to 'go public' on Dutch television you need to have 50.000 members and something new to add to the existing broadcasting conglomerate. Granting or refusal of entry is decided politically on the guidance of public opinion.
In 2005 there was a sharp political debate over government plans to cut funding to public broadcasters and to abolish statutory broadcaster NPS.
The three national television channels are:
NPO 1
NPO 2
NPO 3
The five digital television channels that are provided by the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep organisation, are:
NPO 101
NPO Cultura
NPO Best / NPO Zapp Xtra
NPO Nieuws
NPO Politiek / NPO Sport
There is also an international public channel:
BVN, shared with Belgium's publicly funded Flemish television channel VRT. It shows the best of Dutch and Flemish public television, specifically for Dutch and Flemish viewers abroad.
Most regions and provinces have their own television channel as well. These also receive government funding:
AT5 (Greater Amsterdam)
Omrop Fryslân (Friesland), in Frisian
RTV Noord (Groningen)
RTV Drenthe (Drenthe)
RTV Oost (Overijssel)
Omroep Flevoland (Flevoland)
TV Gelderland (Gelderland)
RTV Utrecht (Utrecht)
NH (North Holland)
RTV Rijnmond (Rotterdam)
TV West (South Holland)
L1 Televisie (Limburg)
Omroep Brabant TV (North Brabant)
Omroep Zeeland (Zeeland)
RTL Nederland (RTL Group)
RTL 4
RTL 5
RTL 7
RTL 8
RTL Z
RTL Crime
RTL Lounge
RTL Telekids
NET 5
SBS 6
Veronica
SBS 9
TV 538 (100% Talpa Holding)
Comedy Central (SD and HD), Dutch version, mostly subtitled
Comedy Central Family, original Dutch programs and subtitled English content
Comedy Central Extra, Dutch version, mostly subtitled
MTV (SD and HD), original Dutch programs and subtitled English content
MTV Brand New, Dutch version
MTV Live HD
MTV Music 24, non-stop music video clips
Nickelodeon (SD and HD), Dutch version, mixture of original Dutch content and subtitled or dubbed international programs
Nick Jr., optional original English audio or Dubbed in Dutch
Nick Toons, Dutch version
Nick Music, Dutch version
Spike (SD and HD), Dutch version
VH1 Europe
VH1 Classic Europe
Film1 Premiere (SD and HD)
Film1 Action (SD and HD)
Film1 Family (SD and HD)
Film1 Drama (SD and HD)
Film1 Sundance (SD and HD)
Ziggo Sport (SD and HD)
Ziggo Sport Select (SD and HD)
Ziggo Sport Voetbal (SD and HD)
Ziggo Sport Golf (SD and HD)
Ziggo Sport Racing (SD and HD)
Ziggo Sport Extra 1
Ziggo Sport Extra 2
Ziggo TV (SD and HD)
AMC Networks International Zone
AMC, Dutch version, but mostly subtitled
CBS Reality, joint venture with CBS, subtitled.
Extreme Sports Channel
JimJam, Dutch or English versions available
Outdoor Channel, joint venture with Outdoor Channel Holdings Inc.
ShortsTV, joint venture with Shorts International, subtitled
E! (SD and HD), subtitled
CNBC Europe, English only
Euronews (25%)
24Kitchen (SD and HD)
BabyTV (distributed by Fox International Channels)
Fox (SD and HD) (through Eredivisie Media & Marketing CV)
Fox Sports (SD and HD) (through Eredivisie Media & Marketing CV)
Fox Sports Eredivisie (SD and HD), 3 pay-TV channels (through Eredivisie Media & Marketing CV)
Fox Sports International (SD and HD), 3 pay-TV channels (through Eredivisie Media & Marketing CV)
National Geographic Channel (SD and HD), Dutch version, but mostly subtitled
Nat Geo Wild , Dutch (SD and HD), but mostly subtitled
Sky News (distributed by Fox International Channels)
Animal Planet (SD and HD), Dutch version, but mostly subtitled.
Discovery Channel (SD and HD), Dutch version, but mostly subtitled
Discovery Science, subtitled
Discovery World, subtitled
Eurosport 1 (SD and HD), International channel with optional English or Dutch commentary
Eurosport 2 (SD and HD), International channel with optional English or Dutch commentary
Investigation Discovery (SD and HD), subtitled
TLC (SD and HD), Dutch version, but mostly subtitled.
Disney XD (SD and HD), Formerly known as Jetix. Dutch version, mixture of original Dutch content and subtitled or dubbed international programs.
Disney Channel (SD and HD), Dutch version, mixture of original Dutch content and subtitled or dubbed international programs.
Disney Junior, Dutch version, mixture of original Dutch content and subtitled or dubbed international programs.
A&E Networks UK (joint venture with Sky plc)
History (SD and HD), Dutch version, but mostly subtitled.
Crime & Investigation Network
Viceland (20%)
BBC First (SD and HD), Dutch version, subtitled
BBC Entertainment, subtitled
BBC World News (SD and HD)
Cartoon Network, optional original English audio or Dubbed in Dutch
Boomerang, subtitled or dubbed
CNN International
Stingray Brava
Stingray Brava HD
Stingray Djazz
Stingray Lite TV
SchlagerTV
TV Oranje (fully owned by TV Digitaal BV)
Fine Living (SD and HD), subtitled
Food Network (SD and HD), subtitled
Travel Channel (SD and HD), subtitled
100% NL TV
Slam!TV
The following (international) commercial channels broadcast localized versions of their programs:
192TV
DanceTrippin TV
Family 7, conservative Christian channel
Motorsport.tv, International channel with optional English or Dutch commentary
ONS (TV channel), Dutch Nostalgia Channel
OutTV, gay lifestyle
Pebble TV, Dutch Children's Channel
Xite, Dutch Music Channel
AFTV (English), available in The Hague and online, targeting Africans in The Netherlands
NOS TV (Papiamento), available on Bonaire and online; local Bonaire TV station.
RTV-7, (Papiamento, English); Rebroadcast of Antillian TV Channels in the Netherlands
While there are many localised versions of international channels meant for the Dutch market, many television providers also broadcast 'domestic television' networks for free; that is to say they are provided as part of the basic subscription package. Other 'domestic' channels may be received as part of extended packages. Many basic subscriptions include:
één (Flanders)
Canvas (Flanders)
Ketnet (Flanders)
BBC One
BBC Two
BBC Four
CBBC
Cbeebies
Das Erste
ZDF
WDR Fernsehen
NDR Fernsehen
RTL
Sat.1
3sat
Arte
Mediaset Italia
Rai Uno
TVE Internacional (Spain)
TRT Türk (Turkey)
TV5 Monde Europe
Mezzo
Al Jazeera English
CGTN
In the Netherlands customers can receive high-definition television channels by cable or satellite. There is no terrestrial HD service available nor planned. The first trials with high-definition television in the Netherlands began in 2006 with the broadcast of the 2006 World Cup in HD. After the trial the larger cable companies continued a HD service with a small number of channels as National Geographic Channel HD, Discovery HD Showcase, History HD, Film1 HD and Sport1 HD But because no Dutch network had made the move to HD, already broadcast in widescreen and the quality of the standard-definition PAL signal was good enough for most people, demand was low.
Since the 2006 trials none of the main Dutch networks made the move to HD. This changed in the summer of 2008 when from June 1, 2008, until August 24, 2008, the Netherlands Public Broadcasting (NPO) organisations made their primary channel, NPO 1 temporary available in HD. This made it possible to broadcast Euro 2008, the 2008 Tour de France, and the 2008 Summer Olympics in HD and additionally allowed them to test their systems before the scheduled launch of their permanent HD service in early 2009. The NPO planned to launch their permanent HD service with HD versions of their three channels NPO 1, NPO 2, and NPO 3. Most of the programming in the early stages will consists of upscaled material from their parent channels as in time more programs will become available in HD. Technicolor Netherlands, the company responsible for the technical realisation of the broadcasts of the NPOs television and radio channels, began the summer 2008 test broadcast of NPO 1 HD in 720p/50 as the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) recommends. During the test period an additional 1080i/25 version of the channel was made available to the cable companies because of quality complaints from viewers. No information has been made available what the format of the permanent HD service from the NPO will be.
The commercial broadcasting organization in the Netherlands the SBS Broadcasting Group (NET 5, SBS 6, Veronica) and the channels of RTL Nederland are currently available in HD via cable and satellite.
This is a non comprehensive list of HD channels available in the Netherlands.
NPO 1 HD
NPO 2 HD
NPO 3 HD
RTL 4 HD
RTL 5 HD
RTL 7 HD
RTL 8 HD
RTL Z HD
SBS 6 HD
NET5 HD
Veronica HD
SBS 9 HD
Fox HD
Discovery Channel HD
Animal Planet HD
TLC HD
Investigation Discovery HD
Eurosport 1 HD
Eurosport 2 HD
Film1 Premiere HD
Film1 Action HD
Film1 Family HD
Film1 Drama HD
Film1 Sundance HD
History HD
National Geographic Channel HD
Nat Geo Wild HD
Ziggo Sport HD
Ziggo Sport Select HD
Ziggo Sport Voetbal HD
Ziggo Sport Golf HD
Ziggo Sport Racing HD
Fox Sports 1 Eredivisie HD
Fox Sports 2 HD
Fox Sports 3 Eredivisie HD
Fox Sports 4 HD
Fox Sports 5 Eredivisie HD
Fox Sports 6 HD
24Kitchen HD
Nat Geo Wild HD
Food Network HD
Fine Living HD
Travel Channel HD
Stingray Brava HD
MTV Live HD
MTV HD
Comedy Central HD
Nickelodeon HD
Spike HD
myZen.tv HD
Fashion TV HD
E! HD
Disney Channel HD
Disney XD HD
BBC First HD
Also available on many platforms:
BBC One HD
BBC Two HD
VRT één HD
VRT Canvas HD
Das Erste HD
ZDF HD
Arte HD
Satellite viewers can receive a number of additional HD channels from the surrounding countries when broadcasting free-to-air. But these channels are not part of HD services offered in the Netherlands nor broadcast programming aimed at the Dutch market.
Defunct or rebranded channels
13th Street Universal (30 May 2007 - 1 July 2016)
Adventure One (1999-2007), replaced by Nat Geo Wild (2007–present)
The Box/The Box Comedy (1995 - 30 April 2007), replaced by Comedy Central (30 April 2007 – present)
Consumenten 24 (formerly Consumenten TV)
Discovery Travel & Living (September 1999 - 4 July 2011), replaced by Investigation Discovery and TLC (4 July 2011 – present)
ESPN America (5 December 2002 - 1 August 2013)
ESPN Classic (13 March 2006 - 1 August 2013)
Euro 7 (19 October 1994 - 28 March 1997)
Family 24
Filmnet (1984 - 1997), replaced by Canal+ (1997 - 2006), followed by Film1 (1 February 2006 – present)
Fox Kids (2 August 1997 - 12 February 2005), rebranded by Jetix (13 February 2005 - 31 December 2009) followed by Disney XD (1 January 2010 – present)
Fox Life (7 September 2009 - 31 December 2016)
Geschiedenis 24 (formerly Geschiedenis)
Het Gesprek (2 October 2007 - 21 August 2010)
Hallmark Channel (1997 - 20 July 2011)
HBO 1/2/3 (9 February 2012 - 31 December 2016)
Kindernet (1 March 1988 - 1 September 2003, 4 April 2011 - 1 November 2013)
MGM Channel (1999 - 5 November 2014), replaced by AMC (5 November 2014 – present)
NBC Super Channel (30 January 1987 - 30 June 1998), replaced by National Geographic Channel (1 July 1998 – present)
NostalgieNet (1 January 2006 - 13 September 2015), rebranded by ONS (13 September 2015 – present)
NPO Doc (1 December 2004 as Holland Doc 24–1 July 2016)
NPO Humor TV (15 November 2006 as Humor TV 24–1 July 2016)
RTL-Véronique (2 October 1989 - 17 September 1990), rebranded by RTL 4 (18 September 1990 – present)
Spirit 24 (formerly Geloven)
Sport 7 (18 August 1996 - 8 December 1996)
Sterren 24 (formerly Sterren.nl)
SuperSport (1995 - 1997), replaced by Canal+ (1997 - 2006) followed by Sport1 (1 February 2006 - 12 November 2015), rebranded by Ziggo Sport Totaal (12 November 2015 – present)
Syfy (30 May 2007 - 1 July 2016)
Talpa (13 August 2005 - 15 December 2005), rebranded by Tien (16 December 2005 - 17 August 2007) followed by RTL 8 (18 August 2007 – present)
TMF (1 May 1995 - 1 September 2011)
TMF Dance (1 May 2005 - 31 December 2011)
TMF NL (1 May 2005 - 31 December 2011)
TMF Pure (1 May 2005 - 31 December 2011)
TNT Classic Movies (17 September 1993 - 15 October 1999) rebranded by TCM (15 October 1999 - 1 January 2014)
TNT (24 January 2013 - 1 January 2014)
TV10 (never launched due to license problems, 1989)
TV10 Gold (1 May 1995 - 31 January 1996), rebranded a couple of times afterwards. First by TV10 (1 February 1996 - 18 December 1998) followed by FOX (19 December 1998 - August 1999), Fox 8 (September 1999 - 30 April 2001), V8 (1 May 2001 - 19 September 2003) and finally by Veronica (20 September 2003 – present)
Vesta TV (October 1995 - July 1996)
Weerkanaal (15 February 2006 - December 2008), rebranded by Weer en Verkeer (December 2008 - 1 October 2013)
Yorin (2 April 2001 - 11 August 2005), rebranded by RTL 7 (12 August 2005 – present)
Zone Club (1998 - 1 April 2010)
Zone Horror (30 October 2006 - 1 July 2009)
Zone Reality (10 October 2002 - 2 December 2012), rebranded by CBS Reality (2 December 2012 – present)
