Matthijs van Nieuwkerk — © rr
Presenter Matthijs van Nieuwkerk and RTL are postponing their collaboration for the time being. According to the Dutch television channel, that decision was made “jointly”. The planned programs with van Nieuwkerk will therefore not take place for the time being.
RTL director Peter van der Vorst says he “misjudged that Matthijs could make a new start this spring”, in response to the publication of a report on the work culture at the Dutch public broadcaster NPO. That report was written, among other things, after reports of misconduct in the workplace at De Wereld Draait Door, the popular talk show that Van Nieuwkerk presented for fifteen years.
RTL announced Van Nieuwkerk’s switch at the beginning of December. The management of the commercial channel then said that it did not want to wait for the publication of the report, which had been postponed several times. “We misjudged the timing,” Van der Vorst says now. “This is not the time for Matthijs to return to TV. We came to that conclusion after intensive discussions this weekend.”
RTL says that “public accusations and discussions about inappropriate behavior are complex and sensitive.” “Postponing cooperation brings peace. It is now very important that the emphasis is on processing the experiences of the reporters and following up the recommendations in the report. We will determine at a later time how and when RTL and Matthijs will continue together.”
Van Nieuwkerk would make a Sunday talk show for RTL from April. There was also a program in preparation for the Olympic Games in Paris.
