SBS6 is a Dutch free-to-cable commercial TV channel and is a part of Talpa TV, formerly known as SBS Broadcasting B.V. and now owned by Talpa Network. Other channels of the group in the Netherlands are Net5, Veronica, and SBS9. It is the second private television network in the Netherlands and third general network overall in terms of founding, after the two RTL channels.
History SBS stands for Scandinavian Broadcasting System. When the SBS Broadcasting Group started expanding outside of Scandinavia in 1995, one of the first countries where they set up a channel was the Netherlands with SBS6. They applied for a cable license in March of that year in an attempt to beat the launch of Veronica in September. Launch rumours included the defection of RTL 5's director of programming Fons van Westerloo to head the new channel from 1 May.SBS Firing Up Its Cable Web SBS6 was the third Dutch commercial TV station after RTL 4 and RTL 5, which were launched in 1989 and 1993 respectively. The channel was set to counter the two RTL channels by having a strong localist flair (50% of its programming), while 40% of its imports were American.SBS’ new Dutch channel bets on localism SBS6 launched on 28 August 1995.
When SBS6 was launched, they were in a tough competition with the channel Veronica, which started as a commercial station at the same time. Both SBS6 and Veronica wanted to be on channel 6 of the viewer's television. The channel was initially nicknamed as a "people's channel" or a "camping channel", but over time had become a broader channel, achieving the third place in the Dutch television market, behind NPO 1 and RTL 4, with a market share of 10%.
The SBS Broadcasting Group expanded their Dutch channel lineup with Net5 on 1 March 1999. In 2003, Veronica was added to the lineup.
The ProSiebenSat.1 Media took over the parent company, SBS Broadcasting Group, on 27 June 2007. In 2011, all of SBS's activities in the Netherlands (through SBS Broadcasting B.V.), including the three TV stations (SBS6, Net5, and Veronica), the two TV guides (Veronica Magazine and Totaal TV), production, design, and teletext activities were sold to a joint venture between Sanoma Media Netherlands (67%) and Talpa Holding (33%).
On 10 April 2017, Talpa Holding acquired a 67% stake from Sanoma Media Netherlands.
After possible merger negotiations with RTL Nederland failed, several Talpa personalities moved from RTL 4 to SBS6 from early 2019, such as It Takes 2, Dance Dance Dance and Miljoenenjacht. Likewise, it brought several personalities of a certain weight to attract viewers, such as Patty Brard, Wendy van Dijk, Winston Gerschtanowitz, Gordon, Johnny de Mol, Linda de Mol and Jan Versteegh.
Programming Imported According to Jim Band of Brothers Castle Close to Home Columbo Coronation Street Days of Our Lives Diagnosis: Murder Elementary Escape to the Country Flashpoint The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Friends Heartbeat House Little House on the Prairie Martin Medical Emergency The Mentalist Monk Murder, She Wrote My Wife and Kids NCIS NCIS: Los Angeles Rome The Sing-Off Space: Above and Beyond Under the Dome Who's the Boss?
Local Achmea Kennisquiz Alle hens aan dek Alles over wonen Andy & Melisa Als de brandweer Arbeidsmarkt TV BankGiro Loterij The Wall Battle of the Bands Bouw Je Droom Celblok H (an adaptation of the Australian drama Wentworth) De Bondgenoten Domino Day Groeten uit de Rimboe (2005-2010) Hart van Nederland Lang Leve de Liefde Moordfeest My Tribute to Elvis Postcodeloterij Miljoenenjacht Reportage Shownieuws Actienieuws Trauma Centrum Vandaag Inside
Sports BDO World Darts Championship Marathon Speedskating PDC World Darts Championship – Summaries only (live on the website) Red Bull Air Race UEFA Champions League, since the 2015/16 season FIFA World Cup qualification and UEFA European Championship qualifying matches of the Netherlands national football team (all home and friendly matches)
SBS6 Classics SBS6 Classics is a FAST channel created on 15 July 2022, which airs reruns of past SBS6 productions. It initially launched on Samsung TV PlusTalpa starts SBS6 Classics channel on Samsung Smart TVs, Telecom Paper, 15 July 2022, retrieved 15 June 2026 (requires subscription] and expanded to the NLZiet platform in 2023.NL Ziet adds SBS6 Classics and ONS, Broadband TV News, 22 August 2023, retrieved 15 June 2026
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