Is Expedition Robinson another hit like before? From now on we will only know that a week after broadcast. Mustard after meals, say critics. Not all broadcasters are happy with it either, according to a tour of NU.nl.
“My morning ritual is fucked up,” says Henny Huisman de Volkskrant. The presenter no longer has a fixed program of which he checks the figures, but is nevertheless curious how the TV landscape compares. “I understand, but will miss it.”
For many journalists and TV makers, it is a regular point: check the viewing figures online around 8:00 am. Presenters are curious how their show has fared and news media – including NU.nl – want to keep their readers informed about the popularity of programmes.
With the new viewing method, which was introduced on Tuesday, it is only shared a week after broadcast how many people were sitting in front of the TV. Watching is increasingly being postponed, in 2022 an average of thirty minutes a day.
In this way, the figures paint a more complete picture. Not everyone is sitting in front of their screen within 24 hours, for example The smartest person to look back. But that does mean that you see fewer viewing figures messages on NU.nl, for example.
Broadcaster MAX wants daily viewing figures back
The National Media Research (NMO), the organizer of the new measurement method, says that NPO, RTL and Talpa are enthusiastic. “They are looking forward to the new insights that this new viewing research will bring,” the NMO reports.
Those sounds are immediately contradicted by Jan Slagter, boss of Omroep MAX. “We are in favor of transparency, so as far as we are concerned, the viewing figures will become public again on a daily basis, as before,” says Slagter. He has his doubts about the new way of measuring, because the figures now sometimes deviate significantly. “Was the old way unreliable or is this way unreliable?” Slagter wants to raise this question with the NMO.
RTL, on the other hand, makes enthusiastic noises. Via the RTL streaming services Videoland and TV Gemist, there is undoubtedly plenty of delayed viewing. “We are very much in favor of this new measurement method,” says RTL CEO Sven Sauvé.
“The viewing pattern has changed a lot in recent years. Delayed viewing has taken off and people are watching on different screens. In this day and age, this new way of publishing ratings is simply necessary to paint a reliable picture.” Sauvé points out that the NMO way has been used in the United States for many years.
Talpa speaks of a “more realistic reflection of the actual behavior of the consumer on all screens and devices”.
The viewing figures of the Wie is de Mol? final only follow this time a week after broadcast, or come from AVROTROS itself. Photo: AVROTROS
Broadcasters are in charge of viewing figures, not journalists
Most public broadcasters also agree with this idea. “That viewing figures will soon also include viewing ‘on demand’ does not seem more than realistic to us, given the contemporary way of viewing,” says the VPRO.
Parties that contribute to the viewing figures survey, including the channels and broadcasters, do get insight into the viewing figures. They still have the freedom to decide to share their own figures with the public. But this means that the management is mainly in their hands, instead of that of journalists.
The NMO has asked the broadcasters and stations to exercise restraint in sending press releases about the viewing figures. They also adhere to that, they report to NU.nl.
For example, Omroep MAX only intends to do this with new programs or new series of well-known hits such as All of Holland bakes. AVROTROS has the same policy. “Media and viewers are informed of viewing figures of special broadcasts, such as the Eurovision Song Contest or the final of Who is the mole?RTL and Talpa report sharing ratings only “when it is relevant”.
Sharing ratings may result in a sanction
KRO-NCRV, EO, BNNVARA and VPRO say they never send a press release about viewing figures, and they will not do so now. The public hears from programs like The smartest person in Summer guests so only after a week how good or bad they scored.
Unless someone decides to leak the information anyway, like ratings expert Tina Nijkamp did this last week. The former SBS boss has already promised not to do this anymore, but she may still be facing a sanction. She has no regrets.
“Why am I publishing this?” Nijkamp wrote on Instagram. “To show that it is already clear on the first day that wanting to keep the viewing figures secret from the viewer, i.e. not publishing the linear figures, is actually not tenable in 2023.”
2023-09-03 03:01:41
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