Dutch broadcaster RTL Entertainment isexpanding its activities into film production.

Senior head of programme acquisitionsDirk de Lille said he had reserved "a couple of million" Euros toco-produce around five film projects a year.

They will primarily be Dutch filmprojects, but de Lille has not ruled out linking up with foreign partners toco-produce features.

De Lille said he was working on'several quite interesting projects'. One of them is biography ofDutch singer Herman Brood by director Jean van de Velde. The film is scheduledfor production this autumn.

Leading Dutch distributor IndependentFilms has been tipped as a possible partner for theatrical distribution of theRTL films.

It is the latest move by RTL, which ownsthree TV stations in the Netherlands, into film production.

Last week, the company acquired the backcatalogues of bankrupt producer First Floor Features (including Oscar winningfilm Character) and Dutch producer RobHouwer (including almost all Paul Verhoeven's Dutch features). Thecorporation is planning to broadcast all of the titles and to distribute themon DVD.

RTL Entertainment is the second newunexpected Dutch player into film production. A month ago, independenttelevision production company Eyeworks, creator of successful TV formats suchas The National IQ test and The 10, announced it was working on two projects to be filmed in 2006.