Exqi Plus is the channel of Gabriel Fehervari, boss of Alfacam, one of the world's leading providers of broadcast technical services. Exqi has been negotiating for years with Telenet for a place on the cable. "We want to thank Telenet for this chance," Fehervari said. Exqi will have the broadest range of programming, including a news broadcast, a sitcom, a quiz show and sport.

VMM, the largest independent broadcaster in the region, adds VTM Kzoe to its bouquet of three channels already on cable - VTM, 2BE and youth channel JIM. VTM Kzoe (pronounced "kazoo") is aimed at children age four to 10 and will share cable space with business channel KanaalZ. Kzoe's schedules will mainly be filled with old shows like Kabouter Plop (pictured), which were shown on the main VTM channel. In the longer term, the channel is expected to produce some of its own programming.

The last newcomer is Discovery Channel, which carries mainly documentaries, nature programmes and reality shows like Mythbusters.

Discovery and Kzoe plan to begin broadcasting on 1 October. Exqi will begin later, possibly by mid November.