Paul Römer, CEO at Talpa, assumes that Johan Derksen’s TV exit is final. He has no intention of persuading the football analyst to stay. “That’s not up for debate at all.”
Johan Derksen has decided to step down as the figurehead of Today Inside, the biggest viewing success of SBS 6. His colleagues René van der Gijp and Wilfred Genee are showing solidarity and are also stopping. It is a huge blow for SBS 6, which is therefore on the eve of sharply declining viewing figures.
Very crazy
Talpa CEO Paul Römer saw it happen live when Johan confessed that he penetrated an unconscious woman with a large candle fifty years ago. “My head was still in the Johnny story. I did see it happen, but actually I didn’t realize until the next morning: something has happened here that is actually very crazy.”
Paul lays up NPO Radio 1 explains that he initially gave the men of VI the opportunity to solve this themselves in their own program. Johan then changed his story; he would not have put the candle in the woman, but put it between her legs. No apologies were forthcoming, much to the dissatisfaction of the Talpa top.
dissatisfaction
It was a bad broadcast, says Paul. “It didn’t go the way you’d hope it would. We found that out the next day.”
A meeting with the gentlemen followed on Thursday. “We have explained very clearly what we think is going wrong here and that there was not a good response. They actually agreed with that at the time.”
The deal was that the VI men would apologize. “I think we have seen a Johan Derksen who has certainly humbly admitted that he made a mistake.”
fine dress
Paul is satisfied with that. “I have looked and my impression is that Johan is indeed putting on the penitent and has come to the conclusion that his way of making TV and discussing it no longer fits today. He has attached the consequence to this that he therefore stops. That is where we are now.”
And now? “At the moment that I am now talking to you, there is a discussion in another place about how to proceed. I’m actually part of that, but I had already made this agreement with you. I will go there in a moment and then we will determine what the next route will be.”
Persuade
Is he not going to persuade Johan? “No, I do not think so. I think he made it clear yesterday how he stands and what his decision is.”
Does he not want Johan to stay? “Well, you know, I’m not really into canceling or putting people away, because that doesn’t help. I think you should always keep in touch. If Johan concludes that his way of talking and thinking no longer fits on TV in this day and age, then you have to respect that.”
So this time Paul is going to swing with Johan’s contract. “That is not up for debate at all. He just ran away and that’s what it is.”
Final
Johan has often said that he will stop. “Yes, but you can say that a few times and not do it, but at some point it will stop, I think.”
So it’s final? “In any case, it is the farewell of Johan Derksen, as he announced it.”
René and Wilfred have also announced that they will stop. “At the moment it is being discussed with each other and I do not want to prejudge that yet.”
What will replace Today Inside? “Well, I’m sitting here, I don’t know yet. That is now being discussed, I can’t tell you yet. I really don’t know yet.”
Fragment
Paul on NPO Radio 1: