NPO 1 (NPO een, formerly Nederland 1 Dutch pronunciation: [ˌneːdərlɑnt ˈeːn] until 2014) is the first national television station in the Netherlands. It launched on 2 October 1951. It provides public broadcasting and currently exists next to sister channels NPO 2 and NPO 3. Several broadcasting organisations of the Publieke Omroep deliver a wide variety of programs for the channel, usually for larger audiences. In 2018, it was the most viewed channel in the Netherlands, reaching a market share of 22.0%.[1]

NPO 1
CountryNetherlands
Broadcast areaNationwide. Also available in Belgium and Germany
HeadquartersHilversum
Programming
Language(s)Dutch
Picture format2160p UHDTV
(downscaled to 1080i and 16:9 576i for the HDTV and SDTV feeds respectively)
Ownership
OwnerNPO
Sister channelsNPO 2
NPO 3
NPO 1 Extra
NPO 2 Extra
NPO Politiek en Nieuws
History
Launched2 October 1951; 72 years ago (1951-10-02)
Former namesNTS (1951–1964)
Nederland 1 (1964–2014)
Links
WebsiteNPO 1 website
Availability
Terrestrial
Digitenne (FTA)Channel 1 (HD)
Streaming media
Ziggo GOZiggoGO.tv (Europe only)
KPN iTV OnlineWatch live (Europe only)
NPO StartWatch Live

History edit

Early years, the 50s edit

In the Netherlands the first television experiments took place in the 1930s. Dutch technology company Philips played an important role in these experiments. In 1951 public radio broadcasters AVRO, KRO, VARA and NCRV established the NTS, Nederlandse Televisie Stichting (Dutch Television Foundation). The very first public broadcast began from studio Irene in Bussum on 2 October 1951 at 8:15 pm. It was transmitted from Lopik, soon followed by Hilversum as well. On 5 January 1956 the NTS broadcast their first news programme, NTS Journaal. In the 1950s television attracted only a low number of viewers. The high prices of television sets were the main reason why.[2] During the 1950s television became available nationally by the introduction of more transmitters and repeaters in Goes, Roosendaal, Loon op Zand, Mierlo, Roermond, Markelo, Ugchelen, Zwolle, Smilde and the new Gerbrandy Tower in IJsselstein.

Creation of Nederland 1 edit

From October 1960 NTS began broadcasting daily from 8:00 pm till 10:20 pm. Two years later the broadcasting hours were extended from 26 to 30 hours a week. On 1 October 1964, a second public television channel began broadcasting, Nederland 2 and the first public broadcasting channel was renamed into Nederland 1.[3] In 1967, colour television broadcasts were introduced by using the PAL-system. Also in that same year advertising between programmes was introduced. In 1969 the Dutch government adopted the so-called open-system for the public broadcasting system, allowing more public broadcasting organisations. Though, a potential new organisation must have 100,000 members or more to be allowed in. On 29 May 1969, the NTS and the Dutch Radio Union (NRU) merged into the NOS serving as an umbrella organisation for the public broadcasting organisations. Its main focus is on general news and sports broadcasts and also provides technical and administrative coordination.[4]

Launch of Nederland 3 edit

In anticipation of the launch of new commercial channels broadcast by satellite, a third television network, Nederland 3 launched in April 1988. After the launch of Nederland 3 in 1988, Nederland 1 was the mainstay of the broadcasters KRO, NCRV, VARA and EO. On 30 September 1991, Nederland 1 introduced a new logo which depicts a yellow "1"-numeral that is placed inside a blue diamond, and at the same time, VARA was moved to Nederland 2, while AVRO moved to this channel, thus earning the nickname AKN (AVRO-KRO-NCRV). Another restructuring was made on 28 September 1992 when Nederland 1 abolished in-vision continuity, in favour for voiceover continuity and at the same time, religious and humanism broadcasters moved from Nederland 3 to Nederland 1, where they were given more airtime for their output. In return, EO moved to Nederland 2, before making their programming output available on all three channels on 24 August 2000 before the huge revamp from 4 September 2006.

Luxembourg-based RTL-Véronique began broadcasting in October 1989. In 1992, the government of the Netherlands legalised commercial television, and a number of new commercial channels were established resulting in a reduction in the market share of the public networks.[5]

Transition to (U)HD and the NPO edit

Until 2006 each public broadcasting organisation had been associated with just one channel, being either Nederland 1, Nederland 2 or Nederland 3. In the 2006/2007 season, the three channels got re-arranged. Nederland 1 became the flagship television channel aimed at a wide audience, Nederland 2 got more highbrow programming with news, current affairs, and documentaries, and Nederland 3 is oriented towards children, youth, and innovative television.[6] The NOS is no longer the coordinating organisation. This function is taken over by the newly formed NPO.

On 16 September 2007, Nederland 1, Nederland 2, and Nederland 3 switched completely to anamorphic widescreen—before that time, only some of the programming was broadcast in widescreen. On 4 July 2009, all three channels began simulcasting in 1080i high-definition.[7] Before the launch of the permanent HD service, a test version of the Nederland 1 HD channel was made available from 2 June 2008 until 24 August 2008 in order to broadcast Euro 2008, the 2008 Tour de France, the 2008 Summer Olympics, and De Simpsons in HD.

On 12 March 2013, the NPO announced that Nederland 1, 2, and 3 would be renamed as NPO 1, 2, and 3. The reason for this change is to make the channels and their programmes more recognizable.[8] The rebranding completed on 19 August 2014.[9]

NPO 1 launched its first trials with ultra-high-definition television through KPN, CanalDigitaal and some minor networks on 14 June 2018, using the HLG standard.[10][11][12]

KPN started to switch its digital terrestrial television platform to the DVB-T2 HEVC standard in October 2018,[13] this transition completed on 9 July 2019.[14] Since then NPO 1 is also available FTA in HD.

Programming edit

Currently,[when?] most of the biggest productions of Dutch public broadcasting television programs are shown on NPO 1, sometimes called the flagship of the NPO. Some notable programmes broadcast through the year are:

Programme Rough translation1 Broadcaster Description
Buitenhof AVRO, VARA, VPRO Sunday-morning interview show, politically oriented.
Blik op de weg View on the road[15] AVRO Traffic programme, about traffic and traffic violations.
Boer zoekt Vrouw Farmer wants a Wife KRO Dutch version of Farmer Wants a Wife
De Erwin Straatsma Rookshow The Erwin Straatsma Smokeshow AVRO, TROS Interview programme
De Reünie The Reunion KRO Human interest, old classmates from high school reunite and talk about their lives.
De Rijdende Rechter The Driving Judge NCRV An official judge holds a trial on location for people.
Detective fiction programmes mostly KRO Several detective series, for example Midsomer Murders or A Touch of Frost
EénVandaag OneToday AVRO, TROS Current affairs
Heel Holland Bakt All Of The Netherlands Bakes Omroep MAX A baking contest, Dutch version of The Great British Bake Off.
Koefnoen AVRO Satirical, sketches with impersonations of famous Dutchmen.
Lieve Paul Dear Paul VARA Entertainment, it consists of celebrity interviews, variety performances, and interaction with the studio audience.
NOS Journaal NOS News NOS News
NOS Studio Sport NOS Sport, the most viewed episodes consist of summaries of Eredivisie football matches, but in other episodes, several other sports and sports events (ranging from big international, to smaller national events) are covered.2
De Wereld Draait Door The World Keeps On Spinning VARA Talk show
Sesamstraat Sesame Street NTR Dutch version and spin-off of Sesame Street
Spoorloos Without a trace KRO Reality programme where people are helped in finding missing persons, with a focus on finding the biological relatives of adopted people. In the United Kingdom known as ITV's Long Lost Family.
Te land ter zee en in de lucht On land, at sea and in the air TROS Game/entertainment show, people must race through an obstacle course in self-made vehicles.
TROS Radar TROS Consumer programme
Tussen Kunst en Kitsch Between Art and Kitsch AVRO Similar to the British Antiques Roadshow
TV Show TROS Interview programme with several famous national and international guests.
Vermist Missing TROS Reality programme where people are helped in finding missing persons
Villa Felderhof NCRV Interview programme, from a luxurious villa in St. Tropez.
Wie is... de Mol? Who is... the Mole? AVRO Dutch version of The Mole.
De Simpsons The Simpsons NPS One episode: "Treehouse of Horror VI".
De Wiggles The Wiggles TROS Dutch version and spin-off of The Wiggles

1 Translation added only when it clarifies the original title of the programme.
2 Special, extra long broadcasts are made during important events such as the FIFA World Cup, the Tour de France or the Olympic Games.

Logos and identities edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Jaarrapport 2018" (PDF). Stichting Kijk Onderzoek. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 January 2019.
  2. ^ Joris Stuurop (5 January 2014). "Eerste NTS journaal op de Nederlandse televisie". IsGeschiedenis.nl. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Nederland 2". BeeldEnGeluidWiki.nl/. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  4. ^ "NOS Startpagina". NOS.Startpagina.nl/. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Geschiedenis – NPO, 18 October 2015". Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Geschiedenis - NPO". NPO. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  7. ^ JK (2009-06-16). "Nederlandse Publieke Omroep dicht bij start HDTV". TotaalTV (in Dutch). SBS Broadcasting. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
  8. ^ Jarco Kriek & Jan Hein Visser (12 March 2013). "NPO wil namen publieke TV- en radiozenders wijzigen". TotaalTV.nl. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  9. ^ Robert Briel (14 July 2014). "Dutch pubcasters rename all radio and TV channels". BroadbandTVNews.com. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  10. ^ Jarco Kriek (5 June 2018). "Canal Digitaal begint testuitzending NPO 1 UHD". TotaalTV.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  11. ^ Jarco Kriek (16 July 2018). "De eerste wankele UHD-stappen NPO zijn gezet". TotaalTV.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  12. ^ Jarco Kriek (16 June 2018). "NPO 1 UHD bij meer aanbieders". TotaalTV.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  13. ^ Jarco Kriek and Jan-Hein Visser (25 June 2018). "Omschakeling Digitenne DVB-T2 en HD begint op 1 oktober in het noorden". TotaalTV.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  14. ^ Jarco Kriek (8 July 2019). "Digitenne in heel Nederland in HD met DVB-T2". TotaalTV.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  15. ^ The title Blik op de weg is a pun. "Blik" means "view" and also "tin", so this title means "(A) view on the road" as well as "Tin (i.e. vehicles) on the road"

External links edit

52°14′21″N 5°10′09″E / 52.2391028°N 5.1691576°E / 52.2391028; 5.1691576