Thomas van Groningen Named as Potential Successor for Renze Klamer
Media expert Victor Vlam argued in his podcast Victor Duidt TV that RTL 4 would be wise to buy SBS 6 star Thomas van Groningen away to replace Renze Klamer on the late-night schedule, calling the move a “gouden greep.”
RTL 4 continues to struggle with its late-night time slot. Following the departure of the failed RTL Tonight, Renze Klamer stepped in to win back viewers, but his new talk show also disappoints with numbers barely exceeding those of his predecessor despite a more favorable broadcast time, mediacourant.nl reported.
Weighing Talk Show Options on RTL 4
The persistent ratings slump places mounting pressure on the network. Victor Vlam evaluated the limited choices available to network leadership during his broadcast.
“The question is what they can still do, and that is the difficult part, because there are not terribly many options,” Vlam stated. He added that a rational look at the situation leaves just one path: acquiring Thomas van Groningen from SBS 6.
Evaluating Top Dutch Talk Show Hosts
Thomas van Groningen currently presents Nieuws van de Dag on SBS 6, a program where Vlam frequently appears as a regular analyst. Despite their working relationship, Vlam ranked his colleague among the elite presenters in the country.
“I think you can reasonably say objectively that he is one of the four best talk show hosts in the Netherlands,” Vlam said, placing Van Groningen alongside Pauw, Jinek, and Genee, while positioning Klamer slightly below them.
Strategic Fit for Peter Lubbers
Vlam suggested that Van Groningen aligns well with the broader programming strategy under new television boss Peter Lubbers. According to the media analyst, Van Groningen brings the credibility needed to deliver a more traditional talk show suited to the classic RTL 4 audience.
Meanwhile, other industry figures point to deeper scheduling dilemmas at the network. Former Talpa director Paul Römer noted that the crowded late-night field leaves little room for a third major talk show, while critic Angela de Jong suggested moving Klamer to an earlier 20:30 slot by shifting GTST to Videoland.
Frequently Asked Questions About the RTL 4 Late-Night Shakeup
How many viewers is Renze Klamer currently attracting?
Renze Klamer draws an average of 430,000 viewers after two months on the late-night schedule, matching the figures of his predecessor, according to mediacourant.nl.
Where does Thomas van Groningen currently work?
Thomas van Groningen presents Nieuws van de Dag on SBS 6, airing in the 18:00 time slot.
What alternative solutions have television experts proposed?
Critic Angela de Jong proposed moving Klamer’s talk show to the 20:30 prime-time slot, while media Victor Vlam suggested that RTL 4 buy out Thomas van Groningen from SBS 6.