Type Public broadcaster Owner Membership Association Headquarters Hilversum, Netherlands Availability Netherlands | Country Netherlands Official website www.vpro.nl Founded 29 May 1926, Netherlands | |
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Former names Vrijzinnig Protestantse Radio Omroep Parent organization Dutch public broadcasting system TV shows Tegenlicht, Toren C, Hoepla, Nederland van Boven, Draadstaal Profiles | ||
The VPRO (originally an acronym for Vrijzinnig Protestantse Radio Omroep, or "Liberal Protestant Radio Broadcasting Corporation") was established in the Netherlands in 1926 as a religious broadcasting organization. Falling under the Protestant pillar, it represented the Liberal Protestant current. However, in the 1950s and 1960s it became more (social) liberal than Protestant, and while the acronym VPRO was kept, its meaning was dropped. It was the first to show a nude woman on Dutch television, Phil Bloom in 1967, in the Wim T. Schippers show Hoepla. The VPRO is known for producing and broadcasting quality (and sometimes avant-garde) programmes, documentaries and films, the target audience of the VPRO could be considered as mostly highly educated and creative people (e.g. artists, designers, scientists).
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VPRO often collaborates with other broadcasting organisations such as WDR, the BBC, and Arte.
Like all Dutch public broadcasters, the VPRO does not have its own dedicated channel.