Under a newly established co-production arrangement negotiated by KRO-NCRV, Waes receives a quarter of a million euro annually in Dutch public funds for his television projects, diverging sharply from standard acquisition models used for imported Flemish programming.
Co-Production Structure Versus Standard Acquisitions
Traditionally, the Dutch public broadcasting system (NPO) acquires Flemish television programs for a modest fee per episode, according to analysis from Tina Nijkamp. For example, when the travel series Reizen Waes aired on VPRO, the NPO paid a maximum of 40 duizend per jaar. Standard “ready-made” imports from Belgium, such as Down the Road, typically cost approximately 5.000 euro per episode, with funds directed straight to the Belgian public broadcaster VRT rather than individual presenters.
Under the new structural agreement, KRO-NCRV operates as an official co-producer of Waes’s Flemish television shows. This setup channels a quarter of a million euro per year directly to the presenter and his production entities, a financial commitment that Nijkamp characterizes as excessive and wasteful. Even when accounting for television flops like Badgast and Kalm Waes, traditional acquisition costs would cap out at roughly maximaal 120 duizend euro, leaving a substantial financial gap that benefits the presenter personally.
Questions Raised Over Broadcaster Agreements
The financial arrangement has prompted calls for parliamentary inquiry. Nijkamp publicly questioned the rationale behind the NPO and KRO-NCRV agreements, pointing out the stark contrast with other popular Flemish and Dutch crossover formats broadcast in the Netherlands. Programs featuring prominent Dutch personalities—such as the Meiland family, the Bauers, Gerard Joling, and Gooische Vrouwen—air in Belgium without generating personal payouts for talent like Linda de Mol, Gerard Joling, or Frans Bauer.
According to Nijkamp, standard broadcast licensing dictates that foreign revenues remain with the originating network or production house that absorbed the financial risk of the initial production. In those conventional scenarios, presenters do not receive direct payouts from foreign distribution rights. Nijkamp also raised questions regarding potential similar arrangements for other Belgian television figures, such as Arnout Hauben, whose programs are produced via his own independent production company.
FAQ
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How much does Tom Waes receive annually from Dutch public funds?
According to media analyst Tina Nijkamp, Tom Waes receives a quarter of a million euro annually under a co-production deal with KRO-NCRV.
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What is the traditional cost for importing Flemish TV programs to the Netherlands?
Traditional ready-made imports typically cost around 5.000 euro per episode, with payments directed to the broadcaster rather than the individual presenter.
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Do other presenters like Linda de Mol receive similar foreign payouts?
No. According to Nijkamp, Dutch personalities whose shows air in Belgium—including Linda de Mol, Gerard Joling, and Frans Bauer—receive zero euro from foreign distribution rights.
Did you know?
Standard television licensing usually keeps foreign sales revenue within the originating network or production company to offset initial production risks, rather than distributing profits directly to on-screen talent.
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