BBC Studios Has Expanded Into Benelux
The company established a new production base and development team to grow its international presence.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Baking
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BBC Studios has launched a dedicated production base and development team in Benelux. The new operation is currently producing the Dutch Bake-Off in collaboration with Villain Studios.
Why it matters
This investment serves as part of the strategy by BBC Studios to accelerate international growth. The base aims to identify and develop original intellectual property while adapting global formats.
BBC Studios now operates 9 production bases outside of the UK. Fiona Wassenberg leads the new Benelux unit after previously spending 16 years at Omroep MAX.
The players
BBC Studios
This is the commercial production and distribution arm of the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Fiona Wassenberg
She serves as the head of the newly formed BBC Studios Benelux Productions operation.
Villain Studios
This production company is collaborating with BBC Studios on the Dutch Bake-Off program.
The details
The Benelux office will work closely with the global content teams and the international creative network of BBC Studios. This move follows the company's previous acquisitions of production firms such as Spain-based Brutal Media and the Scandinavian company STV.
Timeline
October 2022: Fiona Wassenberg joined BBC Studios.
2023: BBC Studios began building its presence in the Nordics, Spain, and Australia.
September 28, 2026: News of the Benelux expansion was published.
Culture Shift
This development follows the BBC Studios Global Productions international growth strategy. It reflects a wider industry trend toward localizing global intellectual property to capture regional market share.
Viewers of the Dutch Bake-Off can expect continued production under the new BBC Studios Benelux operation. This shift ensures the ongoing development and adaptation of high-profile formats within the region.
The takeaway
Global media companies are increasingly moving beyond simple distribution to localize production operations in key regions. This trend allows studios to better tailor content to local tastes while maintaining control over their international intellectual property.
Further reading
For more on international trends, visit the Baking section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Televisual.
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