John de Mol thinks it is important that Hélène Hendriks’ still malleable talk show also appeals to a left-wing audience, thinks media critic Victor Vlam. “He has an interest in that.”
Hélène Hendriks is criticized here and there that her program De Oranjewinter is not as conservative-populist as Today Inside, partly because of the choice of guests. For example, she has attracted a furious Harry Vermeegen, who finds it scandalous that Alexander Pechtold was allowed to shout at the dinner table that the PVV is ‘extreme right’.
Left-wing SBS members
Media critic Victor Vlam thinks that Hélène should be careful not to get too out of step with the sound of Today Inside. “It indeed seems to me an extremely unwise move. Many people watch VI/De Oranjewinter because these programs have a distinctive sound,” he writes X.
According to him, John de Mol should also see that, but: “The interests of the channel do not coincide with the interests of the program. I think De Mol wants to prevent SBS from alienating left-wing people because they should also feel called to watch yet another talent show that he comes up with.”
Less right
Victor thinks that Hélène’s talk show is being manipulated by Talpa Bobo Frans Klein, who comes from the NPO. “Does the new SBS boss Frans Klein want to give De Oranjewinter a less right-wing profile? First Marc van Ranst was the guest, now Alexander Pechtold had a very dominant role at the table.”
In any case, it will be on John’s behalf, Victor decides. “It is common knowledge that John de Mol bought SBS to have a platform to showcase his many formats for possible international sales. A political profile does not fit in well with this. He does not want only the right-wing Netherlands to look at 6, but the whole of the Netherlands.”