In 2000, then called Vlaamse uitgeversmaatschappij (VUM) became a twenty percent shareholder in Woestijnvis. That year the production company brought the Bonanza weekly magazine. The magazine flopped and was closed after only thirty editions. In the field of television programs Vandenhautes production company experienced continued success through the turn of the century with episodes of the quiz program "De Pappenheimers" and "De Slimste Mens ter Wereld" Smartest Person in the World, regularly reached more than one million viewers. Even fiction series like "Het eiland" Island, "De Parelvissers" Pearl Fishers and "Van vlees en bloed" flesh and blood were a success. In 2005 Vandenhaute was nominated for "Manager of the Year" by the financial-economic magazine Trends. The prize eventually went to Jan Callewaert.