Replacement of JIM After nearly fourteen years on air, the youth channel
JIM closed down at midnight on 16 December 2015.
Medialaan stated that the
teenage audience had largely shifted toward
adult entertainment,
social media platforms, and online video services, making JIM’s format unsustainable. In response, the company decided to create a new channel targeting a
younger demographic.
Launch of Kadet Kadet officially launched on 18 December 2015 at 16:00. The channel was designed to cater primarily to
children aged 6–12, with an emphasis on
animated action
programming and
adventure-themed content. To strengthen its programming slate, Medialaan formed a content partnership with
The Walt Disney Company, allowing Kadet to broadcast many shows also seen on
Disney XD in
Belgium. Daan Van Leeuwen, formerly programmes director for
Fox Kids and
Jetix Netherlands, was appointed as head of children’s channels within
Medialaan. He was tasked with developing both Kadet and
VTM Kids and positioning them competitively within the Flemish children’s television market.
Rebranding and closure In December 2018,
Medialaan announced that its children’s brands would be consolidated.
vtmKZOOM and Kadet were retired, and the new channels
VTM Kids (general programming) and
VTM Kids Jr. (for preschool content) launched shortly thereafter. The rebranding aimed to simplify the company’s children’s offerings and strengthen the
VTM umbrella brand across all age groups. == Programming ==