Radio 538, part of RTL Nederland, plans to launch its own TV channel in early 2010. Jan-Willem Brüggenwirth, the broadcaster’s CEO, said in an interview with Broadcast Magazine that he is already negotiating carriage deals on cable companies’ digital tiers.
The channel’s format will be different from the existing music TV channels such as MTV and TMF as it will include footage from the many live events that the number one radio station organises. The music format will match that of the radio station.
The Dutch music video channels are now dominated by MTV Networks, who operate a number of channels under the MTV, TMF and VH-1 brands. The radio station Slam!FM launched an all-clips channel called Slam!TV that is carried on all major networks. Another independent channel is Xite, which features an all-day music video channel and an on-demand service on UPC and CAIW.