The Driving Judge was a striking catch from SBS 6, but the program is off the air after two episodes. What do we see now? Replays by Frank Visser. “A headache.”
The switch from De Rijdenderechter to SBS 6 was announced in January as a strategic move. The public broadcaster stopped the program due to budget cuts, Talpa boss Frans Klein struck and presented John Reid as the new legal asset of the channel. Two TV judges under one roof, hosted by Viktor Brand.
Where’s Reid?
After all, SBS 6 already had Frank Visser, who once left De Rijdenderechter when John de Mol closed his wallet, and now John Reid was added. The channel would become the place for legal reality TV. At least, that was the plan. Reality now looks slightly different.
After only two new episodes, The Driving Judge has already disappeared from the screen. “That is becoming a headache for SBS 6,” says TV authority Tina Nijkamp in her podcast Tina’s TV Update.
No campaign
Things are going very strange, says Tina. “It was striking: two new episodes were shown in the past two weeks and it was striking that there was no marketing campaign or anything surrounding it. Now, this week, another repeat of Frank Visser was shown and repeats of Frank Visser will also be shown in the coming weeks.”
“That was of course not the intention. The Driving Judge would start this season in May. SBS 6 had expected a lot from it, because May is a very important month for commercial channels. That is where the money has to be earned, because many brands then launch an expensive advertising campaign in the run-up to the summer.”
Mother’s Day
Why is May such an important month for TV stations and their advertisers? “There is Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc., the summer holidays are just around the corner. SBS 6 had expected a lot, but what a disappointment and what a deception for SBS 6. The producer was unable to deliver.”
According to the channel, it was only a preview for the series in the fall. “Well, that’s of course just talking about it very honestly. Of course they would have wanted a season, otherwise you wouldn’t put on repeats in May. Nobody wants to put on repeats in May as a commercial channel.”
No cases
So what is going on? “There were simply not enough cases. That is the actual story that SBS 6 apparently does not even dare to tell. There are probably fewer and fewer people who want to fight arguments in front of the camera. That is of course very disappointing for John Reid. With Mr. Frank Visser they do manage to do that.”
“Whether that is due to Mr. Frank Visser and that people would rather fight out their arguments with him than with John Reid? That could just be possible. Frank Visser also has a very nice appearance and older people have known him for decades. John Reid has been on television for a little less time and perhaps Frank Visser has a little more of the favor factor.”
She concludes: “I think it was a cat in a poke for SBS 6.”