Flemish streaming service Streamz grows amid global giants
Flemish streaming service Streamz saw its viewing figures soar by 52 per cent in 2024, driven by a strong appetite for local content. The growth offers a promising outlook for the joint venture between telecom provider Telenet and media company DPG Media, which aims to turn profitable in 2025.
Since its launch in 2020, Streamz has faced scepticism over whether a regional streaming platform can thrive in a market dominated by global players like Netflix and Amazon Prime. However, the service had a successful year, with weekly viewing sessions rising to 3.2 million, following a 47 per cent increase in 2023.
Local productions have been the driving force behind this success, with 80 per cent of viewing time and 64 per cent of viewing sessions dedicated to Flemish content. The platform’s top titles include Nonkels, Chantal and Over de Oceaan, which emphasises the demand for homegrown programming.
"We are certainly not going to invest less in Flemish titles"
Some international series, such as Tulsa King, starring Silvester Stallone, also performed well. Overall, the loss of HBO content to the newly launched HBO Max in Belgium seems to not have had a great impact on the streaming service.
Strategy paying off
Streamz’s long-term strategy of investing heavily in local content thus appears to be paying off. Over the past two years, Telenet and DPG Media have injected significant funds into the platform, producing 12 new Flemish drama series a year, alongside documentaries and reality shows.
Looking ahead, Streamz plans to continue its local focus with a fresh slate of content, including the crime drama Dood Spoor, Ish Ait Hamou’s debut film BXL and a local adaptation of The Real Housewives.
CEO Bart De Groote is confident that the growth in viewership will lead to profitability in 2025. "We are certainly not going to invest less in Flemish titles," he said.
Streamz reported a net loss of 7.3 million euros in 2023. The numbers for 2024 have not yet been announced.
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO STREAMZ
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