In spring 2025, media organisations and fact-checking partners in Belgium and the Netherlands launched a coordinated effort to tackle the growing threat of medical disinformation on social media. As part of the EU-funded BENEDMO-project (the Belgian-Dutch hub of the European Digital Media Observatory), the initiative focused on young audiences and their exposure to misleading health claims online. This subject was chosen because amongst all the project partners, one common insight was the large amount of misleading information around health themes on social media - based on prior research. VRT had for example already investigated popular meat diets and found millions of posts.

During the Tour de France, Sporza, in collaboration with the start-up PimpMyCompany, experimented with new forms of live interaction. Through WhatsApp and integrated polls, viewers could make their voices heard, ask questions, and submit images. The result? A flood of reactions, striking visuals, and an audience that felt more connected to the coverage.

Ten years after the attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, the fight for freedom of expression remains as urgent as ever. The documentary 10 Years of #JeSuisCharlie by VRT CANVAS offers a powerful look at the aftermath of the January 2015 Paris attacks and their lasting impact on cartoonists, journalists, and society at large. The film is shown all summer at the International Cartoon Festival in Knokke-Heist, Belgium, and on December 12 during the European Cartoon Award in The Hague, The Netherlands ,followed by a debate with international experts.

During the Tour de France, Sporza, in collaboration with the start-up PimpMyCompany, experimented with new forms of live interaction. Through WhatsApp and integrated polls, viewers could make their voices heard, ask questions, and submit images. The result? A flood of reactions, striking visuals, and an audience that felt more connected to the coverage.

Ketnet Junior proudly presents Timbalo, a new animated series following the daily adventures of Pepe, Zaza, Toto, and Mimi in a peaceful village. From sunrise to sunset, kids follow these four charming characters through their homes, the village shop, the café, the garage, the police station, the farm - and most importantly, the village square where their worlds connect. Tailored to the developmental needs of young children, Timbalo stands out with its immersive pacing, vibrant design, and original music to encourage active engagement. Kids don’t just watch Timbalo, they live it.

The European Commission has launched ELLIOT, an ambitious research and innovation project aimed at accelerating the development of open and trustworthy AI models in Europe. VRT, together with KU Leuven, will participate as Belgian partners in this four-year initiative, which is funded through the Horizon Europe programme. In addition, VRT is joining forces with the Flemish branch of OpenChip, an organisation working on a European alternative for secure and sustainable AI chips.

The game format Homo universalis (international name: 99 to beat) is on a global conquest tour. After the successful format was already produced in the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Norway, Vietnam, France, the United Kingdom and Italy, "99 to beat" will also air in the United States - as the first VRT format - this fall.

In a world where borders between countries, sectors and audiences are increasingly blurred, the impact of a network is undeniable. International cooperation is therefore essential in the media sector. Together with RTBF and with the support of the Department of Culture, Youth and Media, VRT brings together more than 50 international media organisations within the Future Media Hubs network - this year celebrating its 5 year anniversary.