Six international reality TV hits you (probably) didn’t know came from the Netherlands!
Why You Love Dutch TV and You Don’t Even Know It!
Six international reality TV hits you (probably) didn’t know came from the Netherlands!
The Dutch do it best when it comes to TV exports. That’s a fact. Even though the US and UK tend to steal the headlines when it comes to popular TV content, the Netherlands has long been a hotbed of creative talent. In fact, you already knew this without knowing it.
Big Brother, a Dutch creation, has been watched by more than 600 million in 57 countries since 1999. Then there’s The Voice. First shown in the Netherlands, it’s now available in 64 countries, including the US where it’s been running for 22 seasons.
In short, Dutch TV culture has taken over the world over the last 30 years and it’s almost all down to one company: Endemol.
Founded in 1994, this TV production company is responsible for shows like Big Brother and The Voice. More importantly, it’s responsible for shaping TV programming in more than 60 countries.
Why Did Dutch TV Take Over the World?
Before we show you how Dutch TV took over the world, let’s quickly give you some background on why. Dutch TV culture has traditionally been “pillarised”, according to an academic paper by the University of Groningen’s Berber Hagedoorn.
The term pillarisation comes from the idea that society is divided into pillars based on ideologies, religion, and socioeconomic factors. Dutch TV shows typically focus on specific pillars. As noted by Sonja de Leeuw, TV provides “an anchor point in the experience of cultural identity” in the Netherlands.
Companies such as Endemol have capitalised on this tradition ever since The Netherlands legalised commercial broadcasting in 1992. Working within this framework of pillarisation, they began creating content that specific social groups could identify with and attach a cultural identity to.
Therefore, you could say that Dutch TV is built to be exported around the world. Hit shows reflect cultural norms which, in turn, speak to viewers in specific countries. Therefore, you get universally popular shows with local appeal.
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Top TV Exports: From the Netherlands to the World
Endemol has led the Dutch TV revolution. Founded in 1994 by Joop van de Ende and John de Mol, it built up a global network of 300+ broadcast partners in more than 30 countries. By the time it merged with the Shine Group in 2015, Endemol was already known for hits such as Big Brother and Deal or No Deal.
A further testament to Endemol’s global significance in the TV arena came in 2020. French TV production company Banijay bought Endemol Shine for $2.2 billion. This deal made Banijay the second largest TV production company in the world behind US Endemol, which is an entity in its own right.
The point here is that Endemol has evolved into a global powerhouse. Six standout shows helped Endemol rise to prominence. From Europe to North America, Asia, and beyond, the following hits are Endemol’s top TV exports:
#1 The Voice
The singing show, The Voice, is available in more countries than Big Brother. Originally known as The Voice of Holland when it first aired in 2010, the show has been running for 22 seasons in the US, 12 in Ukraine, and 10 in Turkey. Overall, it’s a hit in 64 countries.
#2 Big Brother
First shown on Veronica in the Netherlands back in 1999, Big Brother is now a global behemoth. Syndicated to 57 countries, including the US, UK, India, Australia, and Brazil, the show is a major Dutch export. According to Starcom, Big Brother accounted for 23% of Channel 4’s £664 million UK revenue in 2007.
#3 Deal or No Deal
Originally known as Miljoenenjacht (Hunt/Chase for Millions) in the Netherlands, Deal or No Deal has been shown in 13 countries. The UK version has become the most popular since 2000, with 13 seasons airing on Channel 4, closely followed by 11 recommissions in the US, Australia and Bulgaria.
#4 Fear Factor
You might think that Fear Factor is most popular in the US due to the fact it was hosted by Joe Rogan, but you’d be wrong. This show has actually been recommissioned more times in India. The fear-inducing game show has been exported to 26 countries since 2001.
#5 The Bus
This show might have only been syndicated to five countries since 2000, but it's in a varied collection of countries. From its original home in the Netherlands, the reality show about people living on a luxury bus has been shown in Spain, Estonia, the Benelux region, and Brazil.
#6 Dating in the Dark
Would you date someone you met in a dark room? Well, viewers in the UK, US, Brazil, and Australia have wanted to know the answer to that question since 2009.
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Dutch Exports Around the World: What Are the Longest Running Hits?
The Voice may be available in more countries than Big Brother, but it’s not quite surpassed its closest competitor in the longevity stakes. According to our data, Big Brother has been running for 24 seasons in the US, compared to 22 seasons of The Voice.
The discrepancy becomes even clearer when you look at timelines. We already know that Big Brother has been around since 1999, while The Voice has been ringing in our ears since 2010. What’s also interesting to note is that Big Brother seasons last longer. In fact, the longest-running season lasted 365 days!
So, we know Big Brother wins the longevity battle, but it’s worth noting that all of the top Dutch TV exports have established reputations outside of the Netherlands. For example, Fear Factor has run for nine seasons in India, 7 in the US, 4 in Russia, and 4 in Albania. The only exception to this rule is The Bus, which only survived one season in the five countries it aired.
Big Brother: The Most Watched Shows and Longest Season
Big Brother took Endemol from a local production company to an international icon in the TV industry. The global viewing figures prove this. Taking into account the average number of viewers per season, the international viewership of Big Brother is over 600 million, but that’s not the only significant stat.
Longest and Shortest Seasons of Big Brother
The longest-running season was aired in Germany. Big Brother Germany 5 started on March 2, 2004, and ended when Sascha Sirtl won on March 1, 2005. The shortest season so far lasted just four days when it aired in Spain from April 12 to 15, 2019.
Where is Big Brother Most Popular?
Perhaps the most interesting Big Brother stat is the breakdown of where it’s most popular. It’s been recommissioned 24 times in the US, which is more than any other country it’s shown. The total viewership is also higher than other countries at 168.45 million. However, the highest viewership for a single season in the US was 9 million back in 2000. The highest viewing figures for a single season actually come from Argentina. The total viewership in Argentina is 163.7 million, and the fourth season attracted an average of 28.2 million viewers. That’s more than 50% of Argentina’s 45 million population.
Per Capita Viewing Figures
Two other countries that outperform the US on a per capita basis are Italy and Spain. The highest viewership in Italy is 9.82 million from a population of 59 million (16.6% ). The highest viewership in Spain is 7.81 million from a population of 47 million (16.6%). In contrast, Big Brother’s highest viewership in the US represented just 2.7% of the population.
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Albania
Fun Facts You Never Knew About Dutch TV Exports
We know the Netherlands is a force in global TV. We know that hit shows like Big Brother, The Voice, and Deal or No Deal have entertained millions of people around the world.
What you probably don’t know is that a live birth took place during an Endemol show. Also, you might not be aware that 48 people have won such a small amount from one of Endemol’s game shows that their prize wouldn’t even cover a train journey home.
There have been some weird and wonderful TV moments over the years. So, to conclude this look at Dutch TV’s influence on the world, here are some fun facts from Endemol’s biggest shows:
Big Brother
Controversy
France
A French group who called Activists Against Trash TV protested the show by clashing with security guards and throwing eggs and tomatoes at the house
Big Brother
Fact
India
Contestants have also reported paranormal activity taking place in the house
Big Brother
Controversy
Nederland
In 2005, a contestant on the Dutch version of Big Brother gave birth on TV.
Big Brother
Controversy
Brazil
Contestant Lucas Koka Penteado exited the house following a kiss between him and openly gay contestant Gilberto Nogueira. When Penteado was confronted by his housemates, he told them he was bisexual, but few seemed to believe him and instead accused him of strategic play that harmed the plight of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Deal or No Deal
Fact
United Kingdom
48 people have won just £0.01 in the UK version of Deal or No Deal, as of 2022.
Deal or No Deal
Fact
United Kingdom
The youngest person to win Deal or No Deal UK’s £250,000 jackpot was 18-year-old Patrick “Paddy” Roberts.
Big Brother
Controversy
United States
Justin Sebik was removed from Big Brother US and charged with assault after holding a knife to a contestant’s throat during season two.
Fear Factor
Fact
United States
Contestants were often tasked with consuming something vile on Fear Factor, usually during the second of three stunts. Some of these disgusting things included silkworms, pig livers, sheep eyes, and buffalo testicles
Fear Factor
Fact
United States
Contestants who took part in the US version of Fear Factor had to sign a contract that, among other things, prevented them from running for public office for 12 months after the show.
Fear Factor
Controversy
United States
Fear Factor - In January 2005, a paralegal from Ohio sued NBC for $2.5 million because of the effect watching an episode of the show had on him. He stated that he watched the episode where contestants had to puree rats in a blender and then eat them and he was so disgusted by it that his blood pressure rose to the point that he became dizzy and vomited. He was then so disoriented that he ran into a doorway and injured himself.
Big Brother
Fact
World Wide
Big Brother - There's even a camera in the bathroom, though the footage is rarely used.
The Voice
Controversy
United States
According to leaked docs, producers on the Voice can allegedly ignore them completely. They can also reportedly switch up the rules whenever they want, or eliminate contestants on a whim — even if those contestants happen to be "winning" in the eyes of the public
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Methodology
In defining the influence of Dutch TV shows, we collected data from a variety of sources, including IMDb and Wikipedia. Information from reviews, official TV data and viewership ratings were also collected for six shows: Big Brother, Fear Factor, The Voice, Deal or No Deal, Dating in the Dark and The Bus. This information was collated and compared to find the most successful Dutch television exports and spin-off shows.
