Industry

BBC Studios is expanding its operations in the Benelux with a new local production base and a dedicated development team, deepening its investment in one of Europe’s established formats markets. BBC Studios Benelux Productions is already producing the local Bake Off brand for Dutch broadcaster Omroep MAX in collaboration with Villain Studios. The expanded operation will now also focus on developing original IP, adapting international formats and working with creative talent, independent producers, broadcasters and platforms across the region.

The new team will operate between BBC Studios’ global content teams and its international creative network while maintaining a strong local focus. Depending on the project, the company will work across licensing, development, production and partnerships, with the aim of creating formats with international potential. The Benelux operation is headed by Fiona Wassenberg, who joined BBC Studios as Head of BBC Studios Benelux Productions in October 2022.

The expansion is part of BBC Studios Global Productions’ wider international growth strategy. Since 2023, the company has expanded its presence across the Nordics, Spain and Australia, including the acquisition of Scandinavian production company STV, now BBC Studios Nordic Productions, Brutal Media in Spain and Werner Film Productions in Australia. With the addition of Benelux Productions, BBC Studios now operates nine global production bases outside the UK, creating further opportunities for collaboration across its international network.

Fiona Wassenberg, Head of BBC Studios Benelux Productions, said: “This is an exciting moment for BBC Studios Benelux as we continue to expand our footprint across the region. The Benelux is home to exceptional creative talent, and we are excited to invest in building a local team that will be at the heart of a hub where great ideas can originate or be co-developed with independent talent and production companies. Alongside our growing production activities, we look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Omroep MAX as we take on production of the local Bake Off formats, building on the long-standing success in the Netherlands.”
Jacob De Boer, EVP Global Productions, said: “We’re thrilled to see BBC Studios Benelux enter this next phase of growth. Establishing a local production base alongside a dedicated development team strengthens our international production network and gives us an even greater ability to work with the exceptional creative talent and production companies across the region. This is an important part of our wider international strategy: building strong local businesses that are rooted in their markets while connected to the scale, expertise and opportunities of BBC Studios Global Productions. Benelux adds another important creative hub to that network, creating new opportunities to source, develop and produce distinctive formats for audiences both in the region and around the world.”