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Cookie policy

Cookie notice 

We are happy to provide you with customized interactive services. That is why behind our website there are certain technologies such as cookies and scripts. We refer to these technologies as cookies hereinafter for the sake of convenience. In this cookie notice we explain clearly and simply which cookies we use and why. We also tell you how you can control these cookies. 

Who is responsible for this cookie notice? 

The ‘Vlaamse Radio- en Televisie-omroeporganisatie’ (the Flemish Radio and Television broadcasting corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “VRT”), is responsible for this cookie notice. The VRT is a limited liability company governed by public law, with our registered office at Auguste Reyerslaan 52, 1043 Brussels, and registered in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) under company number 0244.142.664. 

What does this cookie notice apply to?  

This cookie notice applies to the VRT international website. VRT international focuses on communicating the activities of VRT to (international B2B) audiences. This encompasses collaborating with international partners on innovation projects, services provided to start-ups and scale-ups by the in-house accelerators VRT Innovation and VRT Sandbox, as well as the promotion and sales of VRT Sales content to international distributors.   

What are cookies? 

Our website makes use of ‘cookies’. Cookies are small data or text files that are installed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website or use a (mobile) application. Cookie files contain unique codes that, for example, allow your browser to recognise you when you visit our website. 

Where do cookies come from? 

VRT makes a distinction between first-party and third-party cookies. 

  • First-party cookies are direct cookies managed by VRT. They are specific to the website visited or used. It is that website that creates and places the cookies in order to, for example, function properly. 

  • Third-party cookies are cookies that are managed or placed by a third party. This occurs during your visit or use of this website. Third-party cookies therefore ensure that certain data, collected during your visit of this website, are sent to third parties through your visit or use of a VRT online service. Social media cookies are an example of third-party cookies. Although VRT does not manage or place these cookies, VRT intends to control the placement of these cookies by third parties via our online services.  

Why does the VRT use cookies? 

We use cookies primarily to improve your user experience and allow our website to function better. Cookies make the interaction between you and the website easier and faster. For example, they help you navigate between the different parts of a website. Also, if we can identify you thanks to a cookie, you do not always have to enter the same data, such as your login details.  

In addition, we use cookies to make the content of our website more interesting for you. We do this by adapting that content to your personal preferences and needs. 

We also use cookies to map your surfing behaviour. How did you end up on our website? How long have you used our (mobile) application? The statistical results allow us to improve the website where necessary and respond to your preferences and needs and those of all our other users. In addition, this allows us to fulfil certain legal reporting obligations.  

Which cookies does the VRT use and for what purposes? 

Various types of cookies can be placed via this website. The cookies can be divided into different categories, listed below. The cookies listed below are not all placed simultaneously via all our website.  

Click here for the detailed list of cookies by category. In the cookie settings you will find the most up-to-date information about the various cookies that are placed by VRT or third parties.  As you can read therein, VRT uses your data for the following purposes: 

  • “Saving and/or accessing information on a device” 

  • “Precise geolocation data and identification through device scanning” 

  • “Functional, analytical and social media cookies” 

  • “Strictly necessary functional cookies” 

  • “Functional cookies” 

  • “Analytics” 

  • “Social media” 

  • “Ensure security, prevent fraud and detect errors” 

  • “Technical delivery of content” 

  • “Properties” 

Below we list the categories of cookies that can be used by VRT and its partners to achieve the aforementioned purposes.

Our cookie settings allow you to manage, where possible, which cookies and for what purposes VRT and its partners are allowed to place these cookies on your device. You can let us know your preferences and change them whenever you want. VRT uses the Transparency & Consent Framework (TCF) of IAB Europe for this. More information about this can be found on their website.

Necessary functional cookies 

Necessary functional cookies are cookies that are necessary for the proper functioning of the website. We use these cookies to guarantee, among other things, the following benefits: 

  • Save settings for optimal video playback, such as the desired buffer size and the resolution information of your screen. 

  • Read your browser settings in order to display our website optimally on your screen. 

  • Balance the load on the website so that it remains accessible at all times. 

  • Allow you to comment on our websites and in our apps. 

No consent is required for the use of these cookies, nor can they be disabled.  

Statistical cookies 

Statistical cookies collect general information about how our website is used. VRT uses statistical cookies to fulfil and measure its public mission and the reporting obligations it has in this regard. On the basis of the information collected through statistical cookies, VRT can make statistical analyses of your use of its website. How did you end up on our webpage? On which (mobile) application do you spend the most time? Statistical results allow us to make and improve the structure, navigation and content of our website as user-friendly as possible. We also use that data to report on the achievement of VRT performance that is imposed on VRT by the ‘beheersovereenkomst’ (management agreement) and to take the necessary measurements for this. Because VRT has a legal basis for collecting that information, no consent is required for the use of these cookies by VRT. Therefore, these cookies cannot be disabled and are therefore identified as strictly necessary cookies in our cookie banner. VRT uses the analytical systems of Heap for this.  

In the context of its public service task, VRT also allows the CIM, the Center for Information about the Media, to collect information about users of the pages of VRT with the CIM logo for its internet study using cookies. CIM uses Gemius’ analytical systems for this. For more information about the activities of CIM within the context of this study: click on the CIM logo or go to http://www.cim.be/media/Internet. These cookies can also not be disabled and are therefore identified as strictly necessary cookies in our cookie banner.  

In addition, it is possible that VRT wants to place cookies that are able to analyse your surfing behaviour that does not fall under its public remit. Your consent will always be requested before placing such cookies.   

 Social media cookies 

Social media cookies are used to enable the integration of social networking sites on our websites. Our website may contain embedded elements from third parties. This may include content that is stored with another party, but that is shown on, in or through our website. Furthermore, VRT content can be shared via buttons of social network sites on our website. Examples of those social network sites are Facebook, Google, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter. Those third parties may place cookies through our website to collect data. We have no influence on what those social network sites do with their cookies. For more information about these cookies, we would like to refer you to the statements that the third parties provide on their own websites. Please note that these statements can change regularly. Your consent is required for the use of these cookies. 

How long do cookies last? 

We make a distinction between temporary and permanent cookies based on the duration of the cookie. 

  • Temporary cookies are temporarily stored in your browser or (mobile) application. This means that those cookies are deleted as soon as you close your browser or (mobile) application. 

  • Permanent cookies remain on your computer or mobile device, even if you have closed your browser or (mobile) application. Thanks to permanent cookies, we can recognise you when you visit our website or (mobile) application again at a later time. Permanent cookies remain on your device until an automatically predetermined end date is reached, until a new cookie is placed, or until you delete them via the settings of your browser, (mobile) application or mobile device. 

You can check the storage periods per cookie here.  

How can I manage the use of cookies on the VRT website? 

We want to give you as much control as possible over the use of cookies via our website. Therefore, you can manage the use of cookies on our website, both through our website and through your browser. 

Via the website 

When you visit our website for the first time, you will be given the option to accept or reject specific types of cookies. Additionally, you can adjust the cookie usage per type of cookie at any time. For example, you can choose to refuse social media cookies. You do this by using the check marks in the 'Cookie settings' menu. If you have made adjustments and clicked the green 'Save' button, the new settings will be saved. You will notice that on your next visit we will use the new cookie settings. 

However, you cannot adjust all types of cookies in this way. Nor is it recommended you do so. The functional necessary cookies and (some) statistical cookies mentioned above cannot be modified. As previously explained, those cookies are necessary for our website to work or to collect general information about how you and other visitors use our website. The data we may collect via these cookies are always anonymous and thus identification is never possible. 

Via the browser 

You can also manage or refuse the installation of cookies via your browser settings. You can delete cookies that are already installed on your computer or mobile device at any time. 

How you can adjust these settings is different per browser. If necessary, consult the help function of your browser, and go directly to the manual of your browser via the following respective links: Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Chrome and Safari. 

Should I also read other VRT notices? 

We recommend that you also read our privacy notice. After all, our cookie and privacy notice are related. Sometimes we use cookies to collect certain information about your use of our website. In our privacy notice you can read which personal data we can collect from you, why we collect it, how we use it, and how we approach it.  

Who can I contact with further questions or complaints about cookies? 

Have you read our cookie notice, but you have not found an answer to your question yet? Then we kindly invite you to ask your question about cookies via our customer service (hallo@vrt.be). They will answer your question as soon as possible. 

Additionally, the VRT also has a Data Protection Officer (DPO). This person guards the protection of your data at VRT. Our DPO is happy to speak to you via DPO@vrt.be

We hope you will not be needing the following email address anytime soon. But for complaints regarding our cookie notice, we would like to forward you to our complaints department (hallo@vrt.be). You can also file a complaint with a supervisory authority. In Belgium, this is the Data Protection Authority (Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit). More information about this can be found on their website. 

Can this cookie notice change? 

This cookie notice may be amended if our services or applicable law require so. Our website is, for example, a dynamic and innovative environment. This means that we are constantly looking for a better service tailored to your needs. It is possible that new applications are introduced in which we will collect or want to use your data in a different way. Of course, we will let you know when there are significant changes, and, if necessary, ask your consent. 

This cooky policy was updated on 31/03/2023.