Can the success of RTL Boulevard suddenly change or does it continue to last for years? According to TV critic Victor Vlam, there is an immense risk. “It’s just all too sweet,” he says.
RTL Boulevard has been scoring the roof pans for years. In the commercial target group in particular, the RTL 4 show section is a big hit. However, that seems to be due to habituation: people come home, there is not much different and it looks away easily. After all, it is unmistakable that Boulevard has really become a blood -sane program.
‘The ripples’
A source within the program recently spoke to his worries about this in Story, which published an explosive story about a fight behind the scenes at RTL Boulevard. “The program also seems to matter less and less. It continues,” said this initiate.
“That there are still enough viewers, according to us, mainly because half of the Netherlands watches the board on lap TV, and it doesn’t really matter what is being broadcast. But as makers you have to be proud of your program?”
Brave interpretation
There is indeed a great danger in that, according to TV critic Victor Vlam. He knows those sources at Boulevard. “Yes, I was told by people there,” he says in the podcast Victor explains TV. “It is all very sweet. It is all not very authoritative. Little is said that is really talking about for a long time.”
He continues: “It has become a fairly good interpretation of time. It is very different from the time of Albert Verlinde, when a lot of people was taken there, but that it was also somewhat more spectacular television, which was extensively talked about the next day. That really changed.”
Paving
Experts such as Aran Bade and Rob Goossens are not feared at all. “I also said it more often and then I sometimes noticed that people who worked there agreed with me. That they also hoped that the experts will be a little less muzzled, to ensure that the program will indeed be a little more tone.”
Victor continues: “I think it is wise for RTL Boulevard to indeed sail that course, because in the longer term it is just good for your brand if more happens to you, if you are more of them.”
High risk
You have to keep standing out, even if you are successful, says Victor. “It has also been very good for the RTL News brand that they were the first to receive the Budget Memorandum for years. With that they managed to settle as a news organization with scoops. (…) Well, that is always a reason for people to go and see.”
“And I am afraid that in the longer term, due to the course they are sailing now, that Boulevard simply damages their brand. And that people think of: yes boulevard at some point, it is a bit a bit, but it is not so much special, I think I will look at other programs. That risk is there.”