RTL 4 Late-Night Struggles
Renze Klamer pulls an average of 430,000 viewers for his late-night talk show on RTL 4 after two months on the air, mediacourant.nl reported.
That figure barely exceeds the ratings of his predecessor in the same timeslot last year.
Vlam stated that Thomas van Groningen is one of the top four talk show presenters in the Netherlands, alongside Pauw, Jinek, and Genee, placing Klamer slightly below that tier.
Vlam noted, I work with him at Nieuws van de Dag, of course, but I think you can say fairly objectively that he is one of the four best talk show hosts in the Netherlands.
Flame added, As far as I’m concerned, those are Pauw, Jinek, Genee, and therefore Thomas.
Vlam also noted about a potential departure, I must add that I do not want this, because I would find it very unfortunate to lose him at Nieuws van de Dag, as I think he is a very important factor in the success of that program.
Ratings Pressures and Channel Strategy
The ratings slump follows the failed run of RTL Tonight. TV critic Angela de Jong argued that RTL bears responsibility for the disappointing numbers by sticking with RTL Tonight for too long, which drove viewers to competing programs like Peacock & De Wit and Today Inside, according to mediacourant.nl.
Former Talpa director Paul Römer noted that the crowded late-night landscape leaves little room for a third major talk show, pointing to a broader identity crisis at RTL that includes pressures on Arjen Lubach’s program and the soap opera GTST in the early evening. De Jong suggested moving Klamer to an earlier 8:30 PM slot, which would require relocating GTST exclusively to Videoland.
Weighing a High-Stakes Switch
Vlam argued that Van Groningen fits the content strategy of new TV boss Peter Lubbers better than the current lineup, offering the credibility needed to give RTL a more traditional, populist talk show. At the same time, Vlam acknowledged that leaving his current post on News of the Day at SBS 6 would be a significant loss for that program.
Switching networks carries distinct professional dangers. Vlam noted that even substantial financial offers from RTL do not guarantee success, pointing to Arjen Lubach as an example of a prominent broadcaster encountering complications after a network move. RTL has acknowledged that viewership numbers are trailing expectations but maintains confidence in Klamer and his production.
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