TF1’s Newen acquires Belgian production outfit

French commercial broadcaster TF1’s Newen production outfit has acquired a majority stake in Belgian production company De Mensen.

Newen has taken a 60% stake in the company, which produced Flemish-language recurring and live shows for broadcasters and platforms including Netflix. Founders Raf Uten and Maurits Lemmens will retain a minority stake in the venture.

Newen Group president Bibiane Godfroid said that the acquisition was in line with the company’s strategy of developing European fiction programming and noted that De Mensen was recongiaed as having strong potential in this area as well as in live programming.

She said that within Newen, De Mensen would create value from its know-how in creating internationally successful shows such as Team Chocolat, Beaku Séjour and Undercover.