Erica Meiland says she has received many offers since the revelation that her family is pulling the plug on Chateau Meiland. “It’s a negotiation game that they play very cleverly.”
The Meilandjes are said to be disappearing from television. They are tired of Chateau Meiland and only if someone comes up with a really good proposal will they consider returning to television. In other words: this is just a way to bring in more money, says Johnny de Mol, the son of Talpa boss John de Mol.
Embargo
Many people think that the Meilandjes have already come a long way with RTL, because they gave that channel the scoop of their new book via RTL Boulevard, with which they announced their Chateau Meiland exit. Erica says this again RTL Boulevard: “There was an embargo until 6:30 PM and RTL Boulevard is at 6:35 PM.”
Martien then: “If Shownieuws had been on TV at 6 p.m., it would have been on Shownieuws first.”
Erica: “People look for something behind everything. No, it’s all good, fun and cozy.”
Negotiation game
Martien denies that they are going to RTL. “I’m not going to be with anyone at all. No! I’m not going to do anything at all for another year. I’m going to build our garden next spring, I’m really looking forward to it.”
Reporter Aran Bade doesn’t believe it: “Erica is the business side of the family, she keeps track of everything and after the interview they simply say: ‘I have received all kinds of emails with offers and of course we will take a look at them.’ It is a negotiation game that they play very cleverly.”
Soloistic
Aran also finds it a bit strange that the Meilandjes awarded their scoop to competitor RTL. “You can see that they work quite solo. It’s not that they think: we have to announce that to SBS.”
Colleague Luuk Ikink: “Yes, they themselves say that they were stuck with the 6:30 PM embargo, but they decided that themselves! It is their own book!”
Aran: “Yes, they chose that themselves!”
Need money
Luuk thinks that the Meilandjes are really not going to stop doing TV. “They need money too, don’t they? They have to pay all those mortgages. Money is needed, right?”
Aran: “So I think it is a negotiating tactic.”
Finally, what does Gerard Joling think of it? He says: “I think the cake is a bit finished. That’s what they say themselves. No, I think it has been so exhausted that I think it’s done now.”
Erica then: “Well, I don’t think so, if you’re over a million… Yes, for ourselves, but not for the fans.”