Belgian cabler Telenet pledges extra €30 million for local content

Telenet will commit €30 million of new investment to local programming across the next four years. The Belgian MSO said the funds will be ploughed into Flemish drama, entertainment and formats.

The company has launched the Telenet Stimulus for Audiovisual Productions in Flanders (Telenet STAP), which it said is designed to encourage Flemish producers to develop high-quality TV and film content at a time when funding for local content is increasingly challenging.

“Telenet accepts its responsibility as a Flemish distributor, and intends to help maintain the current high level of successful and high-quality Flemish content,” said Ann Caluwaerts, Telenet’s senior VP for Media and Public Affairs. “Telenet is making major investments – and this will boost the annual spending in the Flemish audio-visual production sector substantially. This will make it possible to realise a number of new productions every year that would otherwise not have materialised. This ensures the growth of the sector.”

All recognised Flemish producers that are largely dependent on commercial activities and revenues for their operation can apply for co-financing to Telenet STAP. Telenet said it might seek certain rights in return, depending upon its contribution.

It will be meeting with interested parties at a round table meeting on October 22.