{
    "title": "VRT and European broadcasters launch Northern Star Project to back ambitious new children\u2019s drama",
    "modified_at": "2026-06-16 19:00:04",
    "published_at": "2026-06-16 19:00:00",
    "url": "https://communication.vrt.be/vrt-and-european-broadcasters-launch-northern-star-project-to-back-ambitious-new-childrens-drama",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/tsId",
    "culture": "en_BE",
    "language": "EN",
    "slug": "vrt-and-european-broadcasters-launch-northern-star-project-to-back-ambitious-new-childrens-drama",
    "body": "<p style=\"text-align: left\">Tuesday, 16 June, 2026 - Five leading Northern European public service broadcasters - <strong>VRT (Flanders), BBC (United Kingdom), DR (Denmark), NPO (Netherlands) and NRK (Norway)</strong> - have formed the <em>Northern Star Project, </em>a new partnership to support the <strong>creation of ambitious children&rsquo;s dramas for audiences aged 7+</strong>.</p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 100%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8256b91f-2f9b-4fc2-a424-71538ae2275c/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                                    srcset=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8256b91f-2f9b-4fc2-a424-71538ae2275c/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/ 1x, https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8256b91f-2f9b-4fc2-a424-71538ae2275c/-/resize/2400x/-/format/auto/ 2x\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"\"\n                id=\"image-8256b91f-2f9b-4fc2-a424-71538ae2275c\"\n                data-id=\"8256b91f-2f9b-4fc2-a424-71538ae2275c\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8256b91f-2f9b-4fc2-a424-71538ae2275c/-/inline/no/NORTHERN+STAR-full+logo-RGB.png\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8256b91f-2f9b-4fc2-a424-71538ae2275c/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"Story image\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\"></figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">The first initiative is a development strand for original scripted live-action dramas for young audiences. Projects will be <strong>jointly developed, shaped and co-commissioned by all five broadcasters for audiences across Northern Europe</strong>. Full details will be announced at the Children&rsquo;s Media Conference (CMC) in July.</p><blockquote><strong>Anne Dreesen, head of children&#039;s content at VRT:</strong> &ldquo;By joining the Northern Star Project, VRT is investing in the future of children&rsquo;s storytelling in Europe. At a time when global competition is intensifying, we believe Europe&rsquo;s strength lies in collaboration. In bringing together our creativity, diversity and shared public values to create ambitious, high\u2011quality drama for young audiences. Together, we can build a more connected and resilient ecosystem for children&#039;s content across Europe.&rdquo;</blockquote><p style=\"text-align: left\">The collaboration brings together funding, expertise and commissioning power across five markets, with the aim of developing and delivering distinctive content that resonates with children across Northern Europe. </p><p style=\"text-align: left\">Northern Star reflects a shared long-term commitment to investing in distinctive European children&rsquo;s content that can travel across borders while remaining rooted in local storytelling.</p><div class=\"release-content-contact\" id=\"contact-640f4bf8-a0a4-4f78-9d66-283f0ced7789\">\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">Nikki Peeters</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Communications lead VRT international</em>\n        <ul class=\"release-content-contact__details-list\"><li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"mailto:nikki.peeters@vrt.be\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"nikki.peeters@vrt.be\"><svg class=\"icon icon-paper-plane release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-paper-plane\"></use>\n            </svg>nikki.peeters@vrt.be</a></li></ul>\n    </div>\n</div><p>&nbsp;</p>",
    "images": [
        {
            "caption": "",
            "original": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8256b91f-2f9b-4fc2-a424-71538ae2275c/",
            "medium": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8256b91f-2f9b-4fc2-a424-71538ae2275c/-/preview/500x500/-/format/auto/",
            "small": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8256b91f-2f9b-4fc2-a424-71538ae2275c/-/preview/200x200/-/format/auto/",
            "thumbnail": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8256b91f-2f9b-4fc2-a424-71538ae2275c/-/preview/100x100/-/format/auto/",
            "square": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8256b91f-2f9b-4fc2-a424-71538ae2275c/-/scale_crop/200x200/center/-/format/auto/",
            "squaresmall": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8256b91f-2f9b-4fc2-a424-71538ae2275c/-/scale_crop/58x58/center/-/format/auto/"
        }
    ],
    "contacts": [
        {
            "name": "Nikki Peeters",
            "company": null,
            "description": "Communications lead VRT international",
            "email": "nikki.peeters@vrt.be",
            "website": null,
            "address": null,
            "telephone": null,
            "mobile": null,
            "twitter": null,
            "facebook": null
        }
    ],
    "author": {
        "first_name": "Nikki",
        "last_name": "Peeters"
    },
    "format_version": 5
}