Veronica is a Dutch free-to-cable commercial television channel currently a part of Talpa TV (Talpa Network). The channel was launched as TV10 Gold on 1 May 1995, then became TV10, Fox, Fox 8 and V8, before becoming Veronica on 20 September 2003. The channel is dedicated to young adults (13-35 demographic)[1] and the male audience.[2]
Veronica is time-sharing with Disney XD: Disney XD broadcasts on daytime and Veronica on night time, the practice began when Saban International bought TV10 in January 1997, and launched a Fox Kids slot on the channel.
In 1996, TV10 Gold became part of the second largest Dutch media corporation Wegener Arcade. On 1 January 1996, Arcade merged with publishing company Wegener.[4] In the first quarter of 1996, TV10 Gold changed into just TV10 to modernize its image. British sitcoms such as 'Allo 'Allo! and You Rang, M'Lord? remained part of the programming, along with the American TV series M*A*S*H.[5]
In January 1997, Saban International bought TV10 and partnered with Holland Media Groep. Fox/Saban's Fox Kids was introduced in the Netherlands, time-sharing with TV10.[6] Within the year, the partnership ended and Holland Media Groep's shares of TV10 were bought by Fox.
Fox and Fox 8 (1998-2001)
On 19 December 1998, TV10 was rebranded into Fox.[7] Rupert Murdoch's Fox International Channels wanted to expand in Europe and through its cooperation with Saban it could make its first try-outs in the Netherlands with TV10.[8] Popular TV series such as Sex and the City, Dawson's Creek, Malcolm in the Middle and Charmed premiered on the channel.[9] Fox became Fox 8 in September 1999, but it rebranded back to Fox in September 2000. However, Fox could not get rid of TV10's image as an old-fashioned rerun channel.[citation needed]
SBS, having bought the channel from News Corporation, renamed it into V8 on 1 May 2001 in anticipation of Veronica.[11] Earlier in 2000 Veronica Association announced that it would leave the Holland Media Groep and wanted to start a channel of its own.[12] SBS and Veronica could not get an agreement and it would take more than two years before both parties closed a deal.
V8 was focused to young adults. The channel mainly broadcast action series, action films and erotic programmes late at night.[13]
Veronica (2003-present)
Eventually, Veronica Association closed a deal with SBS, and V8 was rebranded as Veronica on 20 September 2003.[14][15]
The German ProSiebenSat.1 Media took over SBS Broadcasting Group (including its Dutch activities) on 27 June 2007.[16] In 2011, all of SBS's activities in the Netherlands (through SBS Broadcasting B.V.), including the three TV stations (SBS6, Net5 and Veronica), the two TV guides (Veronica Magazine and Totaal TV), production, design and text activities were sold to a joint venture between Sanoma Media Netherlands (67%) and Talpa Media Holding (33%).[17]
On 10 April 2017 Talpa Holding acquired a 67% stake from Sanoma Media Netherlands.[18]
