Gerard Joling has heard that John de Mol may just come home from a cold fair. According to him, the takeover of his company Talpa Network by RTL Nederland is ‘not a race’.
John de Mol hopes to make a nice TV hit in the last phase of his professional life. He wants to sell his TV and radio company Talpa Network to RTL Nederland. In return, he gets 30 percent of the shares in the commercial monopolist that arises. A nice transaction, as Talpa is clearly not prepared for the digital future.
No run race
Before Talpa can become part of RTL, permission must first be obtained from the ACM and that could turn out to be a difficult hurdle, predicts Gerard Joling. “I hear that the race is not yet over, so we’ll have to see that,” says the RTL 4-star in The Telegraph†
The possible merger of RTL and SBS would mean that Gerard and his former TV buddy Gordon will work for the same company again. Is there a reunion coming? “I don’t think so, at the moment. That will depend on that merger. We are on two different channels and will they ever become one?”
Busy performing
Gerard therefore has his doubts about it. “And I’m also very busy, you know. I just recorded a program with Chantal Janzen and after the holidays we will do The Masked Singer again.”
Moreover, performing remains the most important for him. “Isn’t it great that at 62 years old, among all the young talents – today’s Tino Martins and Mart Hoogkamers – you are still being asked for everything? So, fair? I don’t think that collaboration will happen.”