Roses Are Blue

What Roses Are Blue does

Roses Are Blue is an international television production company headquartered in Mechelen, Belgium, with regional offices in Hilversum (Netherlands) and Potsdam (Germany). Founded in 2017 and operating with 11-50 employees, the company specializes in developing original TV format IP that is designed for cross-territory adaptation, including titles such as Down The Road, 99 to Beat, The Way Out, Summer Hit, Camping Coppens, and Greetings From 19XX. The portfolio spans reality competition, documentary, game show, celebrity entertainment, true crime, and social experiment genres, with content delivered to broadcasters (VRT, NPO, RTL, SBS6, ZDF, ZDFneo, SAT1, ARD, DMAX Discovery, Play4) and streaming platforms (Amazon Prime Video, Discovery+).

The business operates three revenue streams: (1) format licensing royalties on its proprietary IP adapted in markets outside its direct footprint (Netherlands, Germany, Romania, Poland, and others), (2) production services fees earned by producing commissioned content for broadcasters in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany via its regional entities, and (3) international content distribution back-end through partner distributors Red Arrow International, All3Media, Primitives, Lecter Media, and CJ E&M. Roses Are Blue is a member of the Caviar Group, sharing operational infrastructure and back-office resources with parent CAVIAR GROUP NV. The company is differentiated by original format creation rather than technology, and by cross-territory adaptation capability, evidenced by multi-season and multi-market renewals and recognition including the Rose d'Or (2023) for Down The Road and the Kastaar Belgian television award. There is no publicly disclosed pricing; commissions are negotiated per project.

Name

Roses Are Blue

Legal name

Roses are Blue GmbH

Website

https://rosesareblue.tv

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Roses Are Blue is an international TV production company headquartered in Belgium with regional offices in the Netherlands and Germany. It develops original format IP across reality, documentary, game show, and entertainment genres, producing directly for broadcasters (VRT, NPO, RTL, ZDF, SAT1, ARD) and streamers (Amazon, Discovery+) while licensing formats internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mechelen

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Format Licensing: Roses Are Blue licenses its original format IP (e.g., Down The Road, 99 to Beat, The Way Out) to broadcasters and production companies in international markets. Licensees produce local adaptations, paying format fees. Examples include adaptations in the Netherlands, Germany, Romania, and Poland.
2. Production Services for Broadcasters: The company produces TV shows and series directly for broadcasters such as VRT, NPO1, RTL4, RTL5, SBS6, ZDF, ZDFneo, RTL, ARD, SAT1, and DMAX Discovery, earning production fees for commissioned content across genres including reality, documentary, game shows, and celebrity entertainment.
3. International Content Distribution: Completed programs and series are distributed internationally through distributors such as Red Arrow International, All3Media, and Primitives, generating distribution revenue from international sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Roses Are Blue is an international television production company that develops, produces, and licenses original entertainment formats across reality, documentary, game show, comedy, and celebrity genres. The company produces commissioned content directly for broadcasters and streaming platforms in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, and licenses its proprietary format IP to international production companies and distributors for local adaptations in additional markets.

Product overview

Roses Are Blue is an award-winning international TV production company that operates as a content portfolio rather than a unified software platform. The company produces premium television content across multiple formats and genres including reality competition shows (99 to Beat, The Way Out, Boxing Stars), documentary series (Down The Road, Wildlife, Der Germinator), factual entertainment (Greetings From 19XX, Topdoctors), game shows (One Year Off, The Big Bang), celebrity travel programs (Beter Laat dan Nooit, Jenke ohne Grenzen), dating shows (Matchmakers, Project Cupid), social experiments (Restaurant Misverstand), and comedy formats (Einsame Herzen, Late Night Alter). Content is distributed across major European broadcasters and streaming platforms including Amazon Prime Video, VRT, NPO, RTL, ZDF, SAT.1, ARD, DMAX, Discovery+, and SBS6. The company operates regional offices in Belgium (Brussels/Mechelen), Netherlands (Hilversum), and Germany (Potsdam/Berlin), and is a member of the Caviar Group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Down The Road Reality documentary series following Dieter Coppens and six fellow travelers with Down Syndrome on a unique journey to experience independence, make new friends, and possibly find love. Produced for VRT in Belgium and adapted for international markets including the Netherlands, Romania, and Poland. Achieved 53% average market share on Één and reached 1.5+ million viewers.
• 99 to Beat (De Alleskunner) Physical gameshow format in which 100 contestants compete head-to-head in a series of challenges with only one rule: don't come last; the multi-talented last person standing wins the grand prize. Adaptations include De Alleskunner / VIPS on SBS6 in the Netherlands and 99: wer schlägt sie alle? on SAT.1 in Germany. Nominated for Deutscher Entertainment Award, Deutscher Fernsehpreis, and Rose d'Or.
• The Way Out / Code van Coppens (Escape Room Show) Escape room comedy show combining puzzle-solving tension with comedy and creator entertainment. Belgian original Code van Coppens produced for Play4; German adaptation The Way Out delivered to Amazon Prime Video. Hosted by Julien Bam and Joon Kim for the German version.
• Summer Hit (Zomerhit) Nationwide music competition to search for the best summer hit of the year in Belgium, with nominees presented over 5 episodes and a live finale revealing the winner. Achieved 42% average market share in Flanders; live final events attracted more than 10,000 attendees each.
• The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes (Restaurant Misverstand) Social experiment in which people living with dementia are tasked with helping run a restaurant led by a successful chef. Produced for VRT in Belgium and distributed internationally by Red Arrow International.
• At Our Zoo (Bij Ons in de Dierentuin) Behind-the-scenes reality series following an enthusiastic team of zookeepers, landscape architects, cleaners, researchers, veterinarians, food processors, and volunteers caring for more than 800 animal species. Co-produced with AVROTROS for NPO1 in the Netherlands.
• Heels in the Hay (Hakken over de Sloot) Reality competition where twelve city influencers trade luxurious urban lives for the harsh reality of the Dutch countryside, competing for a hefty prize pot. Delivered to Amazon Prime Video; distributed by Amazon Studios.
• The Murder of Marianne Vaatstra (De Moord op Marianne Vaatstra) Four-part true crime mini-series detailing the 1999 murder of Marianne Vaatstra, the investigation, and the stories of family and people involved. Delivered to Discovery+; distributed by Discovery.
• Lonely Hearts (Einsame Herzen) Comedy series for ZDF in which YouTuber Freshtorge plays all roles himself, transforming the search for love into an absurd, emotional parody. Generated 20M+ organic social views, 900K+ interactions, and 106K+ direct clicks to ZDFmediathek.
• Die Haustierprofis (The Pet Pros) Daily afternoon pet show where presenter Ralph Morgenstern and veterinarian Dr. Karim Montasser welcome pet owners and their animals to an idyllic moated castle. Produced for ARD Degeto in Germany.
• The Mole (Germany) Strategic reality game show in which ten contestants travel across Argentina facing spectacular challenges, with one secretly working against the group as the Mole. Produced for SAT.1 in Germany.
• Der Germinator Factual blue-light documentary series following German expat Manfred Gilow, former Chief of Police in Hawkins, Texas, now working in New Mexico with police teams on real operations. Produced for DMAX Discovery.
• Jenke ohne Grenzen (Difficult Destinations) Adventure documentary series in which journalist Jenke von Wilmsdorff travels to places most tourists avoid, exploring regions marked by cultural complexity or difficult living conditions. Produced for RTL in Germany; distributed by Newen.
• Greetings From 19XX (Grüße aus 19xx) Celebrity-led time travel factual entertainment format where well-known personalities and their families step back into the year when they were 12, experiencing a family weekend in a house decorated as in the old days. Dutch version for RTL4; German version for ZDF/ZDFneo. Distributed by Lecter Media.
• Boxing Stars Celebrity boxing competition in which twenty-four celebrities split into weight classes undergo grueling training for the ultimate showdown. Produced for RTL5 in the Netherlands; distributed by De Mensen.
• The Dog House (Viervoeters) Reality show in which abandoned dogs are paired with new forever families through the help of Flanders' dog whisperers Dominique Van Malder and Joris Hessels. Produced for VRT in Belgium; distributed internationally by All3Media; adapted on SBS6 in the Netherlands and Play4 in Belgium.
• Camping Coppens Reality series following presenter Staf Coppens, his wife Monique, and their children Beau and Nora as they move to Sweden to open a campsite. Produced by Roses Are Blue for VRT in Belgium.
• Topdoctors (Topdokters) Documentary series spotlighting medical professionals, patients, and life-altering choices, offering unprecedented access to the inner workings of medical excellence across eight medical disciplines. Produced for RTL4 in the Netherlands; distributed by Primitives.
• One Year Off (1 Jaar Gratis) Game show in which 16 contestants battle over 13 weeks to win the annual salary of the biggest earner in the group, combining knowledge and social strategy. Originally produced in 2001; relaunched in 2020 with 4 new seasons produced.

Quantifiable outcome

• Down The Road achieved 53% average market share on Eén in Belgium
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Caviar GroupcoreOthersRoses Are Blue is a proud member of the Caviar Group. The Caviar Group (CAVIAR GROUP NV) is the parent company headquartered at the same address as Roses Are Blue's Belgian office. Roses Are Blue shares operational resources, infrastructure, and data systems with the Caviar Group network, which includes associated and subsidiary companies at the same registered address.
• Red Arrow InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRed Arrow International distributes Roses Are Blue's production The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes (Restaurant Misverstand), handling international sales and licensing of this format to broadcasters in other markets.
• All3MediacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAll3Media distributes The Dog House (Viervoeters), licensing the format for international markets including Dutch adaptation on SBS6 alongside Play4.
• PrimitivesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimitives distributes the 99 to Beat / De Alleskunner format, handling international licensing of the format that originated from VRT and De Chinezen.
• Lecter MediamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLecter Media is the original producer of Greetings from 19xx (Groeten uit 19XX / Grüße aus 19xx), which Roses Are Blue adapts in the Netherlands (Groeten uit 19XX) and Germany (Grüße aus 19xx).
• CJ E&MminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCJ E&M distributes Beter Laat dan Nooit (Grandpa's over Flowers), a celebrity travel format for Dutch broadcaster NPO.
• BE EntertainmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBE Entertainment distributes The Way Out for Amazon Prime Video in the German-speaking market, producing and distributing the escape room comedy show.
• NewenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNewen distributes Jenke ohne Grenzen (Difficult Destinations) for German broadcaster RTL, handling distribution of the adventure documentary series.
• Fabiola GmbHmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFabiola GmbH (now operating as Roses Are Blue Germany) is the in-house production entity producing German market content including Der Germinator for DMAX Discovery and Die Haustierprofis for ARD Degeto.
• 3BALLminorStrategic or Co-development Partner3BALL co-produces Tiny House Battle (Viervoeters) with Roses Are Blue Netherlands, collaborating on the format for SBS6.
• VRT / AVROTROScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAVROTROS co-produces Bij Ons in de Dierentuin (At Our Zoo) with Roses Are Blue Netherlands for NPO1. Roses Are Blue Belgium produces multiple productions for VRT and VRT Max including Down The Road and Summer Hit.
• In The PictureminorOthersIn The Picture is a recruitment partner referenced in Roses Are Blue's privacy policy as an entity with which personal data may be shared in the context of auditions, applications, and castings.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ITV Studios: UK-headquartered global production and distribution arm of ITV plc with a large international formats catalog (Love Island, The Voice, I’m a Celebrity) and multi-territory production footprint; comparable in cross-border format licensing and broadcaster commissioning.
• All3Media: UK-based independent production and distribution group with a wide label portfolio and active format licensing; Roses Are Blue already works with All3Media on The Dog House (Viervoeters), making it a direct counterpart in distribution and format deals.
• Banijay Group: World's largest international content producer and distributor, owning Endemol Shine, with deep format IP, global distribution, and multi-territory production — the dominant scaled peer for Roses Are Blue's format licensing and production business.
• Fremantle: Global content producer and distributor (owned by RTL Group / Bertelsmann) with major format IP (Idols, Got Talent, X Factor) and operations across Europe; directly comparable in format adaptation economics and multi-territory production.

Direct peers

• Lecter Media: Dutch production company and co-developer of Greetings From 19XX with Roses Are Blue; comparable Dutch-market production shop with format sales capability via international distribution.
• De Mensen: Belgian independent production company producing for VRT, RTL and other Flemish broadcasters, with comparable format portfolio (e.g., distributors of Roses Are Blue's The TV-Viewer of the Year and Boxing Stars); a direct domestic peer in Flemish market production.
• Talpa Network: Dutch media group founded by John de Mol, combining broadcasting, production (Talpa Content), and format IP (The Voice, Big Brother); direct competitor in Dutch market production and format licensing.
• Red Arrow Studios (ProSiebenSat.1): International production and distribution network; already distributes Roses Are Blue's The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes. Highly comparable as a European multi-territory format producer and international distributor.
• Primitives: Dutch-based format distributor that handles international licensing for Roses Are Blue titles (99 to Beat, All Star Allies, Man Bites Dog, The Ultimate Celebrity Car Park Showdown); a closely linked distribution peer in the same format ecosystem.
• Endemol Shine Group (Banijay): Global format powerhouse behind Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, MasterChef and other internationally adapted formats; directly comparable business model of format development, local adaptation, and broadcaster commissions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RosesAreBlueTV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rosesareblue
• Instagraminstagram.com/rosesarebluetv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Roses Are Blue