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AMSTERDAM -- Dutch entertainment giant Endemol N.V. announced Thursday that it has raised its stake from 40% to 51% in local production house NL Film & TV. Headed by Johan Nijenhuis and Alain De Levita, the company focuses on scripted television drama, comedy and feature films. NL Film launched in 2001 and has since grown to become one of the most successful Dutch production outfits with theatrical hits including Costa! Zoop in Africa and Ellis in Glamourland. De Levita said on Thursday: "We are excited to be part of the global network of Endemol which gives us the opportunity to further expand abroad." His partner John Nijenhuis added: "A good format must first prove itself locally. When it has true potential, it can be understood and enjoyed by audiences all over the world."...

AMSTERDAM -- Dutch entertainment giant Endemol N.V. announced Thursday that it has raised its stake from 40% to 51% in local production house NL Film & TV. Headed by Johan Nijenhuis and Alain De Levita, the company focuses on scripted television drama, comedy and feature films. NL Film launched in 2001 and has since grown to become one of the most successful Dutch production outfits with theatrical hits including Costa! Zoop in Africa and Ellis in Glamourland. De Levita said on Thursday: "We are excited to be part of the global network of Endemol which gives us the opportunity to further expand abroad." His partner John Nijenhuis added: "A good format must first prove itself locally. When it has true potential, it can be understood and enjoyed by audiences all over the world."...

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands -- Will the Dutch stay in touch with the Dutch? That is the main concern of the film community in the Netherlands this year. Last year's local market share dropped below 10%, from more than 13% in 2003, leaving the industry reflecting on how to improve results this year. The irony is that in the past few years, local films had managed to gain the confidence of a skeptical local audience that traditionally has been lukewarm to national product. Since 1999, Dutch market share had nearly tripled, spurring optimism among Dutch producers. Better promotional campaigns and casting popular television stars like soap actors Katja Schuurman, Georgina Verbaan and Daan Schuurmans resulted in more efficient targeting of the youth audience. In particular, NL Film, the production house of producer-director Johan Nijenhuis, had a string of successes with such titles as Costa! and Full Moon.