Roularta Media Group (RMG) will launch Libelle Radio on 1 December 2026, a new radio station aimed at the Flemish Libelle community. The station will be available via DAB+, online and through the Mijn Magazines app. The launch expands the existing Libelle ecosystem of magazines, digital channels, video, podcasts and events with a dedicated audio channel.

Libelle Radio will launch as a Christmas music station on 1 December, broadcasting festive music 24 hours a day. Full programming will follow in February 2027, featuring original shows, dedicated presenters and live interaction with the community. The station will focus on feel-good music, relatable stories, inspiring conversations and practical tips on topics including cooking, health, travel and lifestyle.

For advertisers, Libelle Radio will offer new opportunities to reach the Flemish women's community through radio campaigns, creative collaborations and integrated brand partnerships. The combination of radio, print, digital, video and events will further strengthen the multimedia advertising opportunities within the Libelle portfolio.

According to RMG, radio accounts for approximately 15% of the advertising market, with its share remaining stable or growing slightly. Six in ten radio listeners now tune in via digital channels, including DAB+, web radio, streaming and podcasts.

Bpost and Belgian media sales house Ads & Data announce a data partnership. From October 2026, Bpost consumer segments, based on lifestyle data from SelectPost, including purchase intentions and interest categories, are integrated as standard into the Ads & Data offering. This is the first time Bpost makes its consumer segments available through a Belgian media sales house.

The data coupling is handled via LiveRamp's data clean room, in compliance with GDPR. Advertisers can activate the combined segments within the Ads & Data network, which includes Play, VRT MAX, De Standaard and Nieuwsblad. The same SelectPost segments remain available for Direct Mail campaigns via Bpost, enabling cross-channel activation.

This is Ads & Data's second data partnership, following a previously announced collaboration with MMD (Media Marketing Delhaize) on retail media and shopper data.

Febetra, the Belgian federation representing road transport operators and logistics service providers, has launched Connect@Febetra, the revamped successor to its trade magazine Transpo, which published its final issue on 24 July 2026. With a fresh design and a new editorial approach, the magazine places greater emphasis on entrepreneurship, innovation and the latest developments in the transport and logistics sector.

The first issue of Connect@Febetra was published in October 2026. The magazine will now be published every two months, with six issues scheduled for 2027 and a print run of 6,000 copies per issue.

Available in Dutch and French, the magazine offers advertisers a range of advertising opportunities. All of these can be found in the Retrievermedia.be database.

Bauer Media Outdoor has won the street furniture contract for the city of Bruges for a period of 11 years. The contract provides for the installation of 175 passenger shelters, including 40 with digital screens, and free speech columns fitted with green roofs. Some of the bus shelters will also feature green roofs.

Bauer Media Outdoor was already present at Bruges station and is now expanding its network across the entire city. With more than 120,000 residents and approximately 8 million tourist visits per year, Bruges provides access to a diverse audience of residents, commuters and tourists. The 40 new digital screens strengthen the DOOH offering in Flanders, following earlier contracts in Ghent, Sint-Truiden, Aalst, Blankenberge and Hove.

CIM has published the Establishment Survey 2026 (ES26), its annual study of media consumption and device ownership in Belgium. The study is based on 7,283 respondents aged 12 and over, with fieldwork conducted between 1 May 2025 and 31 March 2026.

AI adoption recorded the strongest growth: 40.4% of Belgians now use AI applications, an increase of 15 percentage points compared with the previous year. However, differences between population groups are widening, with a 37-percentage-point gap between those with the highest and lowest levels of education.

Traditional media continue to achieve substantial reach, increasingly alongside digital channels. Live television reaches 69.3% of Belgians, rising to 84.7% when broadcasters' websites and apps are included. FM radio reaches 44.2% of the population, while audio streaming services have grown to 36.7% (+3.4 percentage points).

WhatsApp is the most widely used platform, reaching 75.6% of Belgians, followed by YouTube (65.0%) and Facebook (63.9%). Smartwatches are also included in the survey for the first time: 31.3% of Belgians live in a household with at least one smartwatch.

The key finding of ES26 is that the digital divide is increasingly defined not by access to technology, but by how different population groups use media and digital applications.

The full study, including all results and insights, has been published by CIM and can be accessed via the source link below this article.

Roularta Local Media is launching a special advertising package for the 22 November 2026 edition of De Zondag, marketed as “De Gouden Zondag”. The package combines two print ad insertions with an out-of-home campaign on the DZ Out-of-Home network.

Print formats range from 1/4 page (€1,544) to a double-page spread (2/1 page, €4,324) for the two insertions, excluding the environmental contribution and VAT. The second insertion must appear in the week immediately before or after 22 November. The package also includes 50,000 views across 40 screens in more than 70 Flemish cities and municipalities. Production of the animated ad is included at no extra charge.

According to the latest CIM BPS study, 2026 – September (Universe: National), De Zondag has more than 1,173,000 readers. Booking deadline: Tuesday, 17 November 2026.

This month, Summ-IT BV launched 'Listening Points', a new concept within the storytelling platform Summ'it. Museums place physical signs or displays in or around their museum. Visitors scan the QR code and are taken to a dedicated museum page within Summ'it. There they can find audio stories, podcasts, interviews, videos and reports about the collection, exhibitions or surroundings. A smartphone is sufficient; no dedicated app or equipment is required.

Museums receive their own digital presence and can link existing or new content. Listening Points can also be placed at other locations within a city or region. Summ'it targets museums in Flanders and the Netherlands.

Advertisers can become a local, regional or national partner of one or more Listening Points. Options include partner listings with logo, description and clickable link, QR signs with logo mention, branded audio, podcast sponsorship, additional locations and custom campaigns. All advertising options and rates can be found in the RetrieverMedia.be database.

CIM has published the results of the Belgian Publishing Survey (BPS 2026), providing updated audience figures for Belgian newspapers and magazines across print and digital platforms.

The study shows that 91.3% of Belgians engage with at least one press brand each month. Newspaper brands reach 53.4% of the population daily, while 75.6% engage with a magazine brand each month. In addition, 82.9% read at least one print or digital edition per month.

Fieldwork was conducted between September 2025 and May 2026, with 4,270 interviews among Belgians aged 16 and over. Combined with the previous survey wave, the dataset comprises 8,586 interviews.

BPS 2026 uses two audience metrics: Paper + Digital Editions, measuring average readership per issue, and Brand, measuring total cross-platform brand reach, including websites and apps.

The latest CIM BPS 2026 audience figures and corresponding media profiles have now been incorporated into the Retrievermedia.be database.

At its annual Highlights event, Bauer Media Outdoor announced several network expansions and new advertising solutions for the Belgian market.

Following six successful street furniture tenders, the new contracts cover 2,600 advertising faces, including 708 new ones: 548 traditional paper panels and 160 digital screens. With eight additional municipalities, the network will expand to 287 cities and municipalities by 2027. In northern Belgium, it will reach 83% of adults aged 18–54.

The DOOH network will grow by 20% to more than 1,300 screens across 155 cities and municipalities, delivering an estimated national reach of 57% among 18–54-year-olds.

From January 2027, Bauer Media Outdoor will introduce pDOOH Guaranteed for programmatic guaranteed buying. Digital Audience Packs Flex and gOOH! Max will follow in April. From the second quarter of 2027, DOOH inventory will also be available through the Open Exchange.

In addition, the People & Places targeting tool will be enhanced with new audience profiles and targeting based on fields of study and industry sectors. The new halooh client portal will give advertisers access to campaign data and analytics.

Roularta Media Group launches Libelle Tipt in 2027, a series of six thematic supplements, each published in five provincial editions and distributed exclusively to Libelle subscribers. The supplements appear inside the regular Libelle magazine and are announced on the front cover with a dedicated Libelle Tipt label.

UPDATE 15 October 2026 – Revised publication dates and themes

The six editions will be published on 21 January (Feestje vieren), 11 February (Gezond bewegen), 20 May (Blije kids), 10 June (Leuke Job), 16 September (Stralend trouwen) and 7 October (Moment genieten).

Please note: The publication dates have changed. In addition, the edition previously titled 'Leuke Job' has been renamed 'Werkgeluk'. Please consult Retriever for the latest publication dates and themes.

Only a limited number of advertisers can participate in each provincial edition, as the number of pages is limited. Participation is therefore on a first come, first served basis. The exact placement of advertisements is determined by the best contextual fit and cannot be specified or guaranteed in advance. Participating advertisers also receive the Libelle Tipt label as a window sticker.

Libelle reaches more than one million readers across print and digital, while 80.6% of its readers are responsible for household purchases. Libelle Tipt complements Roularta Local Media titles De Zondag and KW.

IAB Europe has published the final CTV Measurement Framework and Transparency Principles, effective 1 October 2026. The framework introduces a common set of metrics and definitions for Connected TV (CTV) campaigns, structured around three interdependent areas:

• Foundational delivery metrics: ad impressions, invalid traffic, TV-off detection and viewability.
• Exposure and audience metrics: completion rates, reach and content-level information.
• Performance and outcome metrics: conversions, ROAS, incrementality, brand uplift and attention.

In addition to defining the metrics, the framework introduces five Transparency Principles. These cover the use of standards-aligned definitions, transparency around measurement limitations, support for client-initiated data collection, visibility into device power state, and granular reporting.

Where person-level reach is reported, measurement providers must disclose whether the reach figures are observed or modelled. They must also clearly state any relevant assumptions, for example around co-viewing, where multiple people watch the same screen together.

The framework applies across digital video environments, including broadcasters, streaming services and digital-first platforms. It builds on IAB Europe’s existing Digital Video Framework.

BRUZZ and AB will open Studio Steenstraat in February 2027, a new radio and podcast studio at AB Connect on Steenstraat in Brussels. BRUZZ Radio’s evening programme, featuring the DJs of BRUZZ Ice, will move from the Flagey building to the new location.

With Studio Steenstraat, BRUZZ and AB are not only investing in new radio and podcast facilities, but also creating a physical meeting place where media, music and young creators can come together. At a time when more and more content is produced and consumed digitally, the initiative brings a stronger sense of local presence and connection back into the city.

From 2027, BRUZZ Ice will broadcast live DJ sets four evenings a week. During the day, the studio will be managed by AB, with a focus on young creators, artists, collectives and AB Lab residents. AB also plans to use the space for workshops and student mentoring.

Construction will begin this autumn, with the renovation supported by the Flemish Community Commission (VGC).

As part of their partnership with FEBIAC, IPM and Ads & Data are offering a range of print and digital advertising opportunities around the 103rd Brussels Motor Show, taking place from 8 to 17 January 2027 at Brussels Expo.

The official Brussels Motor Show catalogue will be published on 5 and 6 January 2027 with Het Nieuwsblad, L’Avenir, La Dernière Heure and La Libre Belgique. The print run is 285,000 copies, with an additional 20,000 copies distributed at the show. The catalogue will also be distributed digitally via Het Nieuwsblad, De Standaard, Gazet van Antwerpen and Het Belang van Limburg.

Reservations for native content close on 1 December 2026, standard advertising can be booked until 8 December, and final material must be supplied by 15 December 2026.

Digital opportunities include display and online video packages across the Ads & Data and IPM networks. Targeting options include visitors to autosalon.be and febiac.be, automotive interest segments and users showing buying intent.

IPM also offers an intentionalist segment designed to reach users showing an intent to buy a car or utility vehicle. This audience can be activated across display and video formats. Additional targeting options include behavioural and contextual targeting around automotive, electric vehicles and commercial vehicles.

Several print titles also offer special automotive and mobility opportunities around the Motor Show period. Moustique is planning a special edition on 6 January 2027, while Paris Match Belgique will feature automotive and mobility content on 7 January. A four-page consecutive advertising format is available in both titles.

Deuzio will publish a special automotive edition on 9 January 2027, built around the theme “What your car says about you.

All current rates, formats, deadlines and advertising opportunities around the Brussels Motor Show 2027 are available in the Retrievermedia.be database.

Netflix is launching its ad-supported subscription in Belgium on 1 March 2027. The announcement was made by Amy Reinhard, President of Advertising at Netflix, at Netflix's first UK Upfront in London. In addition to Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland will also be added to Netflix's advertising markets.

Advertisers will gain access to the Belgian market through the Netflix Ads Suite. The Netflix Ads Suite is Netflix's proprietary advertising technology platform, launched in May 2025. The platform includes tools for data collaboration, targeting and measurement solutions, and new ad formats.

Pause Ads will become available programmatically via partner DSPs, and Netflix is expanding its demographic targeting capabilities to include income and household composition, among other criteria.

Netflix announced in May 2026 that its ad-supported subscription would be expanded to 15 new countries in 2027, including Belgium and the Netherlands. At the UK Upfront on 24 September, Netflix revealed the specific launch date of 1 March 2027.

On 5 October at 10:00 a.m., VAR, VRT’s advertising sales house, will open registration for the VRT Total Content Partnerships 2027. This offering enables advertisers to associate their brand with VRT content and activate their partnership across a range of VRT channels and touchpoints.

The available options include billboarding on VRT’s linear channels and VRT MAX, trailer tag-ons, online video and audio, podcast sponsorship, creative brand and product integrations, social media and activations. Radio, connected TV and broader 360-degree partnerships can also form part of the package.

For 2027, VAR is offering two types of partnership. A Content Partnership is available from an investment of €250,000. Content+ starts at €600,000 and provides access to VRT’s premium content, priority in the allocation of programmes and creative partnerships, and greater flexibility in inventory selection and scheduling. A volume discount of 2.5% applies from an investment of €600,000, rising to 7.5% from €900,000.

For linear television, VAR’s 2027 base rate within these partnerships is €359 per GRP for the 18–54 target audience. For VRT MAX, the CPM is €35. A 20% surcharge applies to billboards placed immediately before or after premium content on VRT’s linear channels. Seven-second billboards are subject to a 10% surcharge.

Registration opens on 5 October, with planning by VAR starting in November.

Full details of the available options, rates and conditions for the VRT Total Content Partnerships 2027 can also be found in Retriever’s media database at Retrievermedia.be.

Vogelbescherming Vlaanderen has appointed Moïzo Media as its new advertising sales partner for the magazine Mens & Vogel and the monthly newsletter, effective September 2026.

Mens & Vogel is a Dutch-language quarterly of 64 pages with a circulation of 7,000 copies, distributed via Bpost to member families and at trade fairs and events. The monthly newsletter has more than 17,000 opt-in subscribers and an average open rate of approximately 60%.

Across all channels, Vogelbescherming Vlaanderen states it reaches more than 20,000 active nature enthusiasts in Flanders. Magazine ad rates start at €540 for a half page. Moïzo Media also handles ad sales for the hiking magazines of Grote Routepaden vzw and GR Sentiers asbl, BOOTmag, and the KuKi children's art newspaper.

On 16 September 2026, OpenAI announced Sponsored Agents as part of a broader expansion of ChatGPT Ads. This advertising format allows users to start a separate conversation directly from an ad in ChatGPT with an AI representative of the advertiser. The agent can answer questions about products or services and direct users to the advertiser’s website. The sponsored conversation is separate from both the original ChatGPT conversation and ChatGPT’s independent responses, and is clearly identified as sponsored.

Sponsored Agents are currently available only to a selected group of advertisers as part of a limited alpha test in the United States. There is no option to apply for early access. At the same time, OpenAI announced AI-assisted campaign creation and management, as well as optional AI-powered adaptation and translation of ad copy and integrations with HubSpot and Shopify. OpenAI has not yet published any information about buying methods, pricing, billing or the reporting available for Sponsored Agents.

For media planning, this development means that an ad may no longer be assessed solely on impressions, clicks and conversions, but can also serve as the starting point for a substantive conversation. As a result, factors such as the quality of the agent, the data sources it uses, brand control, transparency and measurability become relevant alongside reach, context, pricing and creative. Conversational context and user intent may also play a greater role than individual keywords.

When Sponsored Agents will become available to Belgian advertisers has not yet been announced.

From 1 January 2027, Retriever Media Informatie B.V. will launch Retriever France, the media database for the French market. The database provides information on French media channels, advertising opportunities, formats, rate structures and local market conventions. Interactive Media Maps have also been developed for France, allowing users to explore media and advertising opportunities geographically.

The Retriever France media database will be added to the existing country switcher. Depending on their subscription, users can already switch between Dutch and Belgian data today. Multi-market access via APIs and MCP is also available, using the same data model and workflow across markets. In the run-up to the launch, Retriever will gradually open up the French data to an initial group of media agencies and advertisers.

Groupe Rossel and the Lemoîne family have entered into exclusive negotiations for the sale of approximately 80% of the share capital of Groupe Sud Ouest (GSO) to Rossel France SA. The proposed transaction covers the sale of the family holding company Socibog, which holds approximately 73% of GSO's share capital, as well as a direct stake of approximately 7% held by the Lemoîne family.

If the transaction is completed, it will give rise to a major regional media group with combined revenue of more than 400 million euros. The new entity would reach 3.4 million print readers every day and record nearly 230 million digital visits per month. Its operations would cover the South-West, Hauts-de-France, Normandy and North-East France.

The portfolio would notably include regional daily newspapers such as Sud Ouest, Charente Libre, La République des Pyrénées, La Voix du Nord, Le Courrier Picard, L'Union and Paris-Normandie, as well as 20 Minutes. It would also include thematic media, audiovisual operations such as TV7 and TVPi, radio stations such as Contact FM and Champagne FM, as well as various activities in events and marketing.

According to both parties, this combination is intended to create a critical mass in order to continue investment in technology, digital development and new services, while preserving the regional and editorial identity of the titles. The transaction remains subject to consultation with the relevant employee representative bodies as well as the usual regulatory conditions. Its finalisation is expected by the end of 2026.

Bauer Media Outdoor has been awarded a 15-year street furniture concession in the municipality of Hove. The contract covers the installation of 14 bus shelters and 8 FSUs (free-standing units), of which 5 are digital screens. Hove is located in the immediate vicinity of Antwerp.

The 14 bus shelters will be fitted with green roofs, a format previously deployed in Kontich, Kuurne, and Destelbergen. The 5 new digital screens expand the company's DOOH coverage in the region. The contract also includes the installation of an automatic, self-cleaning public restroom.

Hove follows earlier concession wins in Sint-Truiden, Aalst, and Blankenberge as part of Bauer Media Outdoor's ongoing expansion in Flanders.

Since late August, OpenAI has been showing advertisements in ChatGPT to Belgian users. From 31 August, advertisers can also buy campaigns themselves via the OpenAI Ads Manager.

Advertisements are shown to users of the Free plan and the paid Go subscription. Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu remain ad-free. Users under the age of 18 do not see any advertisements. In Belgium, personalised advertisements are not available for the time being: selection is based primarily on the current conversation, language and approximate location.

OpenAI supports CPM, CPC and conversion-optimised CPC. For CPC campaigns, OpenAI cites a starting point of a maximum bid of US$ 3 to US$ 5 per click, equivalent to approximately €2.60 to €4.30 based on the ECB reference rate of 2 September 2026. For CPM, OpenAI does not publish a fixed standard rate.

For media planners, ChatGPT Ads therefore adds a new contextual channel alongside search and social, in which conversation context and intent in particular determine which advertisement is relevant.

Rates, formats and terms for Belgian media channels can be found and compared centrally in the Retrievermedia.be database.

Retriever has launched a new GRP–Impressions calculator, developed in collaboration with CIM. The tool enables media professionals to instantly convert GRPs to impressions, and vice versa, based on CIM Golden Standard 2026 Audiences.

Through a direct API connection with CIM, Retriever always uses the most up-to-date official audience definitions. In addition to standard target groups, it is also possible to create combined audiences, making it possible to perform calculations for very specific target selections.

The calculator was developed to make media planning faster and simpler, while drawing directly on the reference audience data used in Belgium.

The new GRP–Impressions calculator is now available to users of the Retrievermedia.be database environment.

Autumn 2026 shows the same movement across Belgium's major broadcasters: streaming and digital platforms are taking on a larger role alongside linear television. VTM, VRT, Play Media, RTL Belgium and RTBF are continuing to expand their offering across multiple screens and distribution formats, with content increasingly organised around target audience and moment of use.

VTM (DPG Media Advertising) is explicitly focusing on the combination of VTM and VTM GO, with a broad offering ranging from entertainment and fiction to reality, current affairs and live sport. VRT (Var) is making VRT MAX increasingly the central gateway to both video and audio; from the end of August, the VRT radio stations will also be available to stream directly there. Play Media (Ads & Data) targets the 'choice viewer' who switches between the linear Play channels and streaming platform GoPlay.

On the French-language side, RTL Belgium (DPG Media Advertising / Rossel Advertising) is further developing RTL Play alongside its linear TV, news, sport and radio brands. At RTBF (RMB), the offering is likewise being organised across an increasing number of platforms: La Une remains the broad TV channel, Tipik focuses more strongly on young adults, Tarmac is the urban digital audio and content brand for under-25s, and RTBF Auvio brings together the audio and video offering, both live and on-demand.

For media planners, this means the choice is less and less about which channel alone, and more and more about which platform, which viewing or listening moment, and which content context best matches the target audience.

UGC Belgium and Slice, the content agency of Belgian sales house RMB, are launching Creators on the Big Screen, a new event format that brings digital creator content to the cinema. Sponsored by VISITWallonia, the concept is aimed at French-speaking Belgian content creators and their communities.

The first edition takes place on 29 September 2026 at 20:00 in the Grand Eldorado auditorium at UGC De Brouckère in Brussels, which has more than 700 seats. The event features Lou PREM’s, content creator and radio presenter at Tipik (RTBF), with three exclusive episodes of her YouTube concept OR ZONE.

The format is designed as a recurring concept, with several editions planned each year, each centred on a different creator and community.

For advertisers, Creators on the Big Screen is offered as a cross-media sponsorship package. The package includes cinema visibility at UGC De Brouckère and UGC Toison d’Or, including an event spot and a sponsor spot on the big screen, as well as DOOH screens, OOH posters and ticketing kiosks at UGC Brussels. Digital placements are available via UGC.be, the UGC app and the UGC newsletter, complemented by social media and creator amplification through Slice. An on-site activation at UGC De Brouckère can also be included.

The commercial opportunities for Creators on the Big Screen are also available in the Retrievermedia.be database.

TikTok is further expanding its 'Out of Phone' programme across Europe, including Belgium. The programme was launched internationally in October 2023 and brings TikTok content beyond the mobile platform onto digital out-of-home screens. With six new partners, TikTok is now increasing its physical presence across markets including the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Spain and Italy.

The new partners are Alight Media, DooH it, Powerpill, Zoom Media, Next-Gen Media and C-Screens. Through their networks, organic TikTok creator content is shown on screens in locations including wellness centres, shopping malls, bars, supermarkets, universities and other high-footfall environments.

For advertisers, Out of Phone offers options including content sponsorships and an ad extension product, allowing existing TikTok creator content to be extended onto DOOH inventory.

One of the new partners is DooH it, which is using its DigiCab network. The network operates in Belgium, among other markets, and delivers full-screen, sound-on video in taxis. DigiCab also uses AI to measure factors including passenger attention and engagement.

All partnership opportunities are available in the Retrievermedia.be database.

From 24 August 2026, YouTube will apply a new, uniform definition of a view: every impression counts from the first frame, regardless of format: Shorts, Long Form, Podcasts or Live. The former definition of a view will henceforth be referred to as an engaged view: an impression in which the viewer watches beyond the first frame or actively clicks to watch the video.

Thumbnail impressions without interaction continue to be excluded. When a user hovers over a thumbnail and autoplay starts, this will count as a view going forward. If the user then continues watching, an engaged view is also recorded. Clicking or tapping on a thumbnail immediately results in both a view and an engaged view.

Metrics such as CTR, AVD and retention remain based on engaged views. The recommendation algorithms and the YouTube Partner Program also remain unchanged. The most significant change therefore lies in the total number of reported views. Because from 24 August every started first frame can count as a view, advertisers and media planners will need to account for the distinction between views and engaged views when comparing YouTube figures.

From 31 August, the individual apps for Radio 1, Radio 2, MNM, Studio Brussel, Klara, De Tijdloze and Radio Bene will be phased out. The radio stations themselves will continue to exist and broadcast live. Only digital access is being centralised: listeners who want to tune in via an app, catch up on content or use other features will be redirected to VRT MAX.

All existing radio functionality will remain available via VRT MAX. Users will be able to listen live, replay clips, discover podcasts, send messages and take part in programme-related activities. According to VRT, bringing everything together in a single app will make it easier for listeners to find the full range of content, while also improving efficiency in the development and management of digital services.

Live radio continues to play an important role in Flanders. According to the cited CIM figures, 66% of daily audio listening time is spent on live radio and 29% on streaming. Streaming is becoming increasingly important among younger audiences, while people aged 45 and over still listen extensively to live radio.

VRT is also continuing to invest in podcasts and other forms of on-demand audio. Existing programmes are being supplemented with podcast versions, while new productions are being made available via VRT MAX.

Play Media is launching an extended autumn offering across television, the Play app, vertical video through Play Shorts, and podcasts. Advertisers can be present within the content, around Play Shorts, or through fully customised formats.

New TV titles launch from 24 August, including Bockie Gaat Naar School (Mondays at 21:15), Zeg Eens Euh hosted by James Cooke (Monday to Thursday), Jade & De Belgen from 27 August (Thursdays at 21:15), and Knokke Tof from 26 August (Wednesdays at 21:15). Season 9 of De Tafel van Gert/Tine/RVG airs Monday to Thursday at 20:00.

Play Shorts has generated nearly 7 million views, with an average viewing duration of 23 minutes. Play now works directly with content creators on Shorts, without the involvement of a production house. The podcast offering is also expanding with the new title Vik & Marie: Studio 100 Rewind.

Ads & Data handles the advertising sales and commercial exploitation of Play Media’s offering.

Sometimes we come across an example that clearly reflects a broader development in the media market. This time: Bauer Media Outdoor reports that several advertisers used real-time weather data to activate DOOH and pDOOH campaigns across its network this summer.

Coca-Cola and Evian triggered campaigns when predefined temperature thresholds were reached, while Partenamut used the UV index to deliver timely sun protection messages.

The network supports contextual activation based on a wide range of live data signals, including temperature, precipitation, UV index, pollen levels, air quality, time of day, traffic density and sports results.

The next step is Dynamic Creative Optimization (DCO). Here, live data not only determines when an ad is shown, but can also change the creative message itself in real time. This makes context increasingly relevant not just for targeting, but for the creative execution of DOOH campaigns as well.

According to the BMO x Kantar Pulse survey (2024), 78% of Belgians notice DOOH advertising and 71% take a follow-up action after exposure. Research by BMO and Neuro-Insight found that contextually relevant campaigns can increase advertising effectiveness by 17%.

Transparency is central to Retriever’s approach. For media data, rates and audience figures in the Retriever database, the source of the information should always be clear. The same principle now also applies to the Media News section.

As you read on, you will spot them: the new Sources & Transparency links.

Across the media landscape, news is distributed, picked up and summarised faster than ever, increasingly by automated systems and AI applications. As a result, the original source of a story can easily become obscured.

The news items compiled by Retriever are based on identifiable sources and undergo editorial review before publication.

From now on, every item clearly shows which sources were used. Where relevant, the item also indicates whether the factual information has been confirmed by the media organisation concerned. This applies to all items published here under Media News that may subsequently be included in the monthly newsletter. This keeps media news timely and easy to follow, while also making it verifiable and traceable.

Read more about Sources & Transparency →

Knack Focus will no longer appear as a separate printed magazine from the summer of 2026. The culture and entertainment title will be integrated into its parent magazine, Knack.

With this change, publisher Roularta aims to reduce print costs while creating more space for the digital development of the brand. Knack Focus will continue to cover film, music, performing arts, festivals and other cultural trends, but will from now on be offered within Knack and through its digital channels.

The integration is part of a broader shift in which publishers are simplifying their print portfolios and placing greater emphasis on digital journalism and brand development.

CIM has published its Audio On Demand ranking for June 2026, completing the picture for the first half of the year.

From January to June, participating publishers recorded a combined 89.4 million streams and downloads. The Dutch-language universe accounted for 66.2 million, or 74% of the total. The French-language universe recorded 23.2 million, representing 26%.

Total volume in the second quarter was 8.8% lower than in the first. TOPradio only joined the study in June, but this change has only a limited impact on the comparison.

VRT was the largest Dutch-language publisher within the study. On the French-language side, RTBF accounted for 90.5% of the measured volume. The two language universes therefore present very different profiles. It should also be noted that fewer publishers and brands participate on the French-language side.

Daily news formats were the most stable category. De 7 from De Tijd held the top position in the Dutch-language ranking throughout all six months. In May, however, its lead over Het HLN-nieuws was particularly narrow, at just 9,759 streams.

Sports programmes fluctuated much more in line with the events calendar. In March and April, cycling podcasts benefited from the spring classics. In June, football and the World Cup gained ground. Sporza Daily increased from 96,792 to 485,059 streams between April and June.

The figures for the first six months highlight three clear trends: news remains the most stable foundation, sport follows the events calendar, and the Dutch- and French-language universes differ significantly in both size and concentration.

Source: CIM, Audio On Demand – January to June 2026. The study is based on logfile data from participating publishers and does not cover the entire Belgian market. The figures refer to streams and downloads, not reach or audience. TOPradio has been included since June 2026.

DPG Media is adding HUMO to the free student subscription it has offered since 2025. Students in Belgium aged 16 to 25 now receive digital access to HLN, De Morgen and HUMO.

Students can take out the subscription using the details on their student card. They subscribe to one title free of charge, but receive access to all three titles. The digital subscription is available on mobile, cannot be shared and runs for the duration of the study period or until the student turns 25.

According to DPG Media, tens of thousands of university and college students have registered for a free digital subscription to one of the two news apps since launch.

RTBF Jam will stop distribution via DAB+ from 6 July. The RTBF music service will continue as a digital stream and will be integrated into other RTBF offerings.

The web radio station will remain active via RTBF Auvio and is available on smartphones, desktop and in the car via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. From the rentrée, Jam will return with weekly slots on RTBF Tipik, a segment on RTBF Classic 21 and contributions on RTBF La Première.

The Instagram account @jamrtbf will remain active for music updates. RTBF Jam was launched in 2019 and focuses on alternative and emerging music, with attention to the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.

The Belgian Competition Authority approved Rossel's acquisition of IPM Presse's publishing activities on 3 July 2026, subject to conditions. Rossel and IPM are both active in the French-language newspaper and magazine market. Following the acquisition, Rossel will have sole or joint control over all French-language printed daily newspapers in Belgium.

The commitments require that virtually all French-language daily newspaper titles be maintained. According to the Authority, Le Soir, La Libre, L'Avenir, and La DH/Les Sports will each retain their own identity, editorial charter, and safeguards for editorial independence. Content sharing between the titles will be limited, with the exception of sports coverage.

Update – 6 July: Rossel states that its merger with IPM currently has no impact on campaigns that are scheduled or running through the end of 2026. In the fourth quarter, Rossel Advertising will announce its new campaign processes for 2027, together with a range of new commercial offerings.

De Zondag is launching DZ Go, a social-first video format focused on leisure and experiences. The format turns ideas for outings in Flanders and Brussels into short videos for social media and the web. Roularta Media Group announced the launch on 2 July 2026.

For DZ Go, De Zondag is working with ten content creators. Lukas Moreels has been appointed full-time social & community coordinator. DZ Go is available via @dezondag on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. Four new videos are published each week via De Zondag’s social channels and on dezondag.be/dz-go.

From Friday 3 July, users can also subscribe to the DZ Go newsletter. According to the announcement, the first videos generated more than 6 million views across all platforms.

Bauer Media Outdoor has been awarded the new street furniture contract for the City of Aalst. The concession runs for nine years and follows the previously mentioned award in Sint-Truiden.

Under the contract, Bauer Media Outdoor will install 43 bus shelters in Aalst. These include 20 digital screens and 69 paper panels. The city will also receive dedicated space for institutional communication, in both paper and digital formats.

The bus shelters will be equipped with USB ports. Bauer Media Outdoor will also install four automated external defibrillators and new bicycle racks.

Mediahuis Belgium and Mediahuis Netherlands are expanding their online deal shops with a marketplace model. Professional third-party sellers can now offer their products through the deal shops and sell directly to consumers.

The offering is promoted through campaigns across the group's news brands. In Flanders, the deal shops remain linked to titles including De Standaard, Gazet van Antwerpen, Het Nieuwsblad and Het Belang van Limburg. In the Netherlands, Mediahuis has consolidated its shops under Favoshop.nl.

Joining is free for brands and selling partners. There are no fixed monthly fees; partners pay commission only on products sold. Product catalogues can be integrated manually or via a feed, API or ChannelEngine. Payments are processed through Mollie.

DAZN has reached an agreement with Telenet, Proximus and Orange for the linear distribution of its channels in Belgium. From 7 August, matches from the Jupiler Pro League, among others, will again be available via linear television, alongside the DAZN app.

Transfer Media is responsible for the commercialisation of the linear channels. Digital advertising sales in the app and specific campaigns remain with DAZN’s own sales organisation. Since this year, programmatic advertising has also been possible within the app.

Transfer Media is active in thematic television, digital video, radio, retail media, Connected TV and streaming in the Belgian market.

Since 1 June, VRT sports brand Sporza has been presenting a renewed visual identity. The brand has introduced a new logo and a fresh look and feel that aligns with VRT's renewed corporate identity and the visual identities of VRT's other brands. Sporza's distinctive green remains its signature colour. The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the first major event to showcase the new branding.

In addition, Sporza is expanding its digital offering with the Kopman podcast, available on VRT MAX since 12 June, helping listeners make their choices for the Sporza Wielermanager. With the Tour de France starting in Barcelona on 4 July, Sporza will broadcast all 21 stages live.

The latest results of the CIM RAM survey for the January–April 2026 period have been processed in Retrievermedia.be. The update includes the latest figures on the average daily listening reach of radio stations in Flanders and Wallonia. More detailed results including the average listening duration per day and market shares, are available on the CIM website.

The FIFA World Cup will not conclude until 19 July, dominating big screens, sports content and advertising attention well into the heart of summer. Even after the final whistle, the sporting calendar will remain busy: the Belgian football season will end relatively late, while the Jupiler Pro League is set to resume as early as 7 August, following the Belgian Super Cup on 2 August.

For media planners, this creates two distinct peaks of opportunity. July will continue to deliver exceptionally high audience engagement, driven by both sport and major festivals, including Tomorrowland (17–19 and 24–26 July) and the Belgian Grand Prix (17–19 July). This will be followed by a rapid build-up towards the back-to-school season from mid-August onwards. Traditionally, demand for reach, visibility and advertising inventory rises sharply during this period, culminating in a peak around the start of the new school year in early September.

Below is an overview of the key sporting events and festivals set to shape the media landscape this summer. All rates and inventory opportunities mentioned are indicative only and remain subject to confirmation by the relevant sales houses and media owners.

Play launches Play Shorts on 2 June 2026, a vertical video offering within the Play app featuring short fiction and non-fiction formats developed for mobile consumption. Content is produced in collaboration with local production companies including Ded'sit and Woestijnvis.

Brands can engage commercially via sponsorship, product integrations or tailor-made formats built around a brand or campaign. Commercial representation is handled by Ads & Data, the national sales house of Telenet, Play Media, Mediahuis and Proximus. At launch, the fiction series *De Assistent Onder Mij* (Ded'sit), with episodes of approximately 90 seconds, is available.

Ads & Data also handles advertising sales for De Standaard, Nieuwsblad, Gazet van Antwerpen, Het Belang van Limburg and VRT MAX.

The collaboration between Knokke-Heist and Roularta Local Media around the weekly free local newspaper TAM-TAM will come to an end on 31 May. This marks the close of a joint initiative that, since 2019, has distributed local news, community information and advertising throughout the coastal municipality. Both parties will continue their local communication efforts through separate initiatives.

Roularta Local Media will retain the TAM-TAM brand as a periodic publication, with four editions scheduled for 2026 around holiday periods. According to publisher Barbara Spyckerelle, the publication dates have been aligned with peak visitor periods at the coast, allowing local businesses to boost their visibility during key commercial moments. In addition to the print edition, Roularta also points to supplementary advertising opportunities through TAM TAM TV, De Zondag and KW, including digital channels such as websites, social media and newsletters.

At the same time, Knokke-Heist is relaunching its municipal magazine KH Nieuws. The magazine focuses on policy information, projects, public services and local stories. According to the municipal authorities, KH Nieuws should provide more room for context and in-depth coverage alongside the existing digital communication channels. Published every two months, KH Nieuws contains purely municipal information and no advertising.

Both initiatives complement each other. KH Nieuws keeps residents informed throughout the year, while TAM-TAM targets local businesses looking for visibility at key commercial moments. Together, they ensure Knokke-Heist remains well-served by local media.

IPM is bundling its offering around the 2026 World Cup and the Tour de France with cross-media packages combining print and digital visibility across its titles, including DH Les Sports, La Libre and L’Avenir.

The packages (Bronze, Silver, Gold) allow campaigns to be activated through a single purchase, combining print insertions (daily newspapers, specials, supplements) with digital formats (display, video) and data-driven activations.

This offer is notably built around DH Les Sports, positioned as a key reference for sports news in French-speaking Belgium, both through the scale of its editorial team and its coverage of major events such as the World Cup and the Tour de France.

IPM is expanding the packages in reach and volume: the Silver package includes 200,000 digital impressions and a sports newsletter with 60,000 impressions, while the Gold package reaches 400,000 impressions and adds additional content formats such as a native podcast. The offers are structured as global, non-cumulative packages around major sporting moments, with a clear progression in reach and frequency.

RMB positions the 2026 World Cup as a premium moment, focused on reach and scarcity. There are no standalone channels, but clearly defined entry levels depending on matches and tournament phases. For media planners, this means working with fixed volumes, guarantees, and limited availability at key moments.

On digital, predefined packages offer set volumes of views and reach. Expect around 120,000 to 400,000 views, or more depending on the budget. CPMs increase as volumes decrease. Targeting options, such as around the Red Devils or knockout stages, are available but remain limited and come at an additional cost. The objective is to ensure maximum visibility during strategic moments.

On TV, reach is quickly built through match broadcasts. Packages start at 48 GRPs and can go up to 150 GRPs or more. The group stage allows for rapid reach building, while knockout stages are sold separately, offering less volume but greater scarcity and impact. A few days before the tournament, inventory will be opened to the entire market, allowing advertisers to buy remaining spots on a spot-by-spot basis.

RMB also offers additional opportunities in content and sponsorship around the competition. These formats are part of the overall offering and enable brands to activate through editorial content, social media, and cross-media integrations. They provide additional levers to strengthen advertiser visibility and engagement during the tournament.

Publisher Mediahuis Luxembourg is introducing Mosaik, a new digital section entirely dedicated to thematic advertorials, available on Wort.lu and Virgule.lu.

Across seven themes – Animals, Commerce, Gastronomy, Living, RouteYou, Seniors and Holidays – Mosaik offers digital readers a rich mix of practical and local information, articles, videos, display advertising and advertorial content in two languages (French and German).

From now on, advertorial content – previously limited to the print edition of Luxemburger Wort – will also be integrated into the editorial environments of Wort.lu and Virgule.lu, the leading news brands for Luxembourgers and the French-speaking community respectively. Together, they generate 3,860,000 monthly visits. Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as a monthly newsletter, are currently in development.

Ads & Data is responsible for the sale of display formats within Mosaik in Belgium. Please contact Annelies Vankersschaever.

This month, BRUZZ marks its tenth anniversary as a unified Brussels city media brand. The brand was created through the merger of five Dutch-language media outlets (tvbrussel, FM Brussel, brusselnieuws, Brussel Deze Week and Agenda) and today delivers content focused on Brussels news, culture and urban topics. With the baseline “Brussels is capital”, BRUZZ has become a well-known media brand among both Dutch-speaking and non-Dutch-speaking audiences, with a presence across radio, TV, online and its magazine.

From 20 to 29 April 2026, BRUZZ highlights its anniversary with a ten-day programming schedule on BRUZZ radio and an expanded anniversary edition of BRUZZ magazine. During this period, special temporarily reduced advertising rates apply. Available magazine pages and radio slots are limited and reserved for campaigns aligned with the “10 years of BRUZZ” theme, with deadlines in early April.

Starting April 1, Proximus is expanding its channel offering with Pickx Crime, a new thematic channel dedicated to suspense, crime, and thriller content. Advertising sales have been entrusted to Transfer Media, further strengthening its partnership with Proximus.

Pickx Crime taps into the enduring popularity of the crime genre, offering a mix of international top series such as The Bridge, films like I, Tonya and Malcolm X, as well as local and international true crime and documentaries.
Following the successful collaboration on, among others, Pickx+, Proximus Showcase, and Pickx+ Sports, Transfer Media continues to strengthen its position as a commercial partner within the Pickx ecosystem. The sales house will now commercialize seven strong, genre-focused Proximus TV channels.

Pickx Crime will be automatically added to Pickx entertainment packages and will be available to all subscribers, both linearly and on demand via channel 69.

Transfer Media also continues to innovate in other areas. Recently, it launched the commercialization of VIDAA, a smart TV platform within the growing Connected TV ecosystem.

PMG (Professional Media Group) is launching PMG PRINT 2.0, an advertising format in which booking an advertisement in a printed trade publication automatically includes placement in the corresponding newsletter of the same media brand. The advertisements are displayed between two print issues, with no additional materials, production costs or campaign management required from the advertiser.

The concept was tested with Artsenkrant, a fortnightly medical trade publication supported by a daily newsletter. According to PMG, combining print with digital placement doubled the reach of the campaign.

Since 15 February 2026, PMG PRINT 2.0 has been rolled out across PMG’s entire portfolio of more than 40 trade publications covering the construction, industrial, retail, food, communications and healthcare sectors.

6minutes Press, part of the independent publishing house KIM vzw (Kleine Initiatieven in de Media), will launch the art magazine Kukimag on March 15, 2026.

Kukimag – short for KUnst & KInderen MAGazine – brings art, museums and exhibitions closer to children and young people. The magazine targets children aged 8–12, teenagers aged 13–18 and (grand)parents. It tells the stories behind artworks and artists and aligns editorially with child-friendly exhibitions and events in Belgium and abroad. Both contemporary artists and masters from the past are featured, with special attention to educational initiatives by museums.

The print edition is published twice a year (spring/summer and autumn/winter), consists of 32 pages and is distributed via museums, academies, libraries, schools and subscriptions. The print run is 1,250 copies. A full-page full-colour advertisement costs €780. Half-page formats are also available. Advertising recruitment is managed by Peter De Vester of Moïzo.

In addition to print, Kukimag is present online via kukimag.be and a monthly newsletter Kukitips with more than 1,200 opt-in subscribers.

All advertising opportunities can be found in the media database retrievermedia.be.

As of 1 January 2027, companies with 50 or more employees will be required to offer a mobility budget to their staff. To guide fleet and HR decision-makers through this transition, publisher link2fleet is launching “link2mobility”, a four-part thematic series dedicated to the mandatory mobility budget.

The series provides practical and editorial support for concrete implementation. Topics include the strategic development of a mobility policy, alternative transport solutions, two-wheelers as a sustainable alternative, and case studies of companies already working with the mobility budget. Shared mobility – ranging from public transport to shared cars and bikes – is also covered extensively.

Link2mobility reaches 30,000 contacts (5,000 by post and 25,000 by email; 60% Dutch-speaking, 40% French-speaking). The rate for a full-page, full-colour advertisement is €3,180.

Pub (People Unified around Brands), the Belgian market leader in professional information on media, advertising, marketing, creative and the communications sector, has decided to increase both the sizes and frequency of its print magazine.

Pub Magazine has 2,000 subscribers: marketers, communication specialists, media professionals and students who want to stay up to speed with activities, trends and developments in the market. While the format is increasing significantly, from 215 x 275 to 280 x 430, the magazine will now also be published 9 times a year instead of 4.

All advertising opportunities can also be found in the Retrievermedia.be media database.

Jobat will expand its offering in 2026 with creative employer branding formats. This allows the platform to structure its employer branding activities alongside its existing solutions for ongoing recruitment.

These formats are deployed within initiatives such as Jobat Xperience, the successor to the former Go for Happy Magazine. They combine targeted content creation (articles, photography, video and audio) with broad distribution via Jobat, social media, and the media networks of DPG Media and Mediahuis. This gives employers maximum visibility within a strong and relevant network, all within a fixed budget.

In addition to these fixed packages, Jobat continues to offer tailor-made solutions, with employer branding and recruitment campaigns flexibly developed based on the target audience and the client’s specific objectives.

GRIDX is a multi-experience destination in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, located between Luxembourg City and Esch-sur-Alzette. It combines shopping, dining, hospitality, art, events and mobility, all centred around a passion-driven theme (mainly automotive) and “retailtainment”.

It is an innovative 90,000 m² ecosystem bringing together retail, a hotel, a food hall, a digital museum, office spaces and event venues, offering an immersive and fully integrated experience for both the general public and professionals.

The DOOH offering includes a network of 10 55-inch screens, with a base rate of €1,580 per week.

GRIDX therefore complements IP Luxembourg’s diverse DOOH offering.

On 3 January, Mediahuis Luxembourg will launch a brand new cultural magazine called .kult. It will be published on the first Saturday of every month as a supplement to Luxemburger Wort, Luxembourg's largest daily newspaper.

.kult takes a relevant and bold look at Luxembourgish culture and society, focusing on art, pop culture, music, literature, media and much more. It will be available in print and digital versions, combining traditional and innovative formats: interviews, profiles, short articles, calendars, videos, but also comics, reels and quizzes.

.kult is aimed at the over-25s looking for cultural news and reaches 229,400 readers (print and digital versions), or 52% of the Luxembourg population, boasting 96% of subscribers to boot. 11,000 people consult the e-paper version every day. The rate for a full-page colour advertisement is €4,600. There will be a total of 10 editions per year.

The magazine is published by Mediahuis Luxembourg S.A. Sales house Ads & Data handles Belgian advertisers, while Luxembourg clients are serviced by Regie.lu.

All info at Retrievermedia.be

Roularta is adjusting the magazine size of Feeling, Feeling Special and Gael. As of the issue dated 22 April 2026, the titles will switch to a more compact magazine size. The trim size will change from 225 × 285 mm to 215 × 275 mm, resulting in proportional adjustments to all standard ad sizes. The existing technical delivery specifications remain unchanged. For issues published up to and including 18 March 2026, the current size will continue to apply.

Do you use the Retriever material order application? When opening campaigns that include Feeling, Feeling Special or Gael, the size changes will be automatically indicated via a warning pop-up. Once accepted, the updated sizes are immediately applied in the material order overview.

As of 1 January 2026, Imagix is entrusting the sale of its advertising screens to RMB, which has already been responsible for commercialising the UGC complexes in Brussels and Flanders since early 2025. With the addition of the three modern Imagix cinemas in Mons, Tournai and Huy (a total of 32 screens), RMB is significantly expanding its cinema portfolio in Wallonia. Together, UGC and Imagix account for nearly 3 million cinema-goers per year and around 20% market share at national level.

Thanks to the combined UGC–Imagix offering, RMB can now provide advertisers with cinema coverage across almost all of Wallonia, Brussels and Flanders, including opportunities for both local and national campaigns and integration into broader video and cross-media plans.

For 2026, RMB is introducing an attractive early-booking incentive: advertisers who commit before 15 December 2025 to investing at least the same cinema budget in 2026 as in 2025 will receive two additional weeks of free presence, on top of their planned cinema campaigns (not valid in weeks 1, 44, 45 and 52).

Sales house IP Luxembourg is expanding its portfolio with a DOOH network at the Belle Étoile Shopping Centre in Bertrange, Luxembourg, which has 105 panels and welcomes 100,000 visitors per week. This new 12-screen network is aimed at consumers in shopping mode.

The basic rate for the Belle Étoile network is €1,700 for one week (10 seconds). A special “introductory offer” is currently in effect at €1,190.

From February 2026, Stijlvol Wonen will be published under the new name vtwonen Design. The name change applies to both the Netherlands and Belgium and is part of DPG Media’s strategy—publisher and operator of the title—to bring all home and interior brands in its portfolio together under the strong vtwonen label.

The change concerns the name only; the editorial concept and target audience remain unchanged. The magazine continues to focus on enthusiasts of design living and exclusive interiors. The first issue of vtwonen Design will be published on 5 February 2026.