Television expert Tina Nijkamp has announced that coaches Dinand Woesthoff and Willie Wartaal are expected to exit The Voice of Holland ahead of an upcoming production merger with the show's Belgian counterpart.
According to Nijkamp, RTL has been acquired by Belgian owners, leading to a wave of co-productions aimed at cutting costs across broadcasting schedules.
While hosts Chantal Janzen and Edson da Graça are set to begin filming the upcoming Dutch season shortly, Nijkamp expects that production to mark a major transition point for the franchise.
"I honestly think this is the last time for the time being that the Voice Netherlands will get an edition.
I actually think I know for sure that next year it will just be a co-production with Belgium," said Nijkamp on her podcast Tina's TV Update.
The media analyst explained that combining the two national iterations would slash production budgets significantly while potentially introducing new elements to revitalized broadcasting formats.
"Why?
Because that is of course really half as cheap, because you can then share the costs between two countries and perhaps there is then indeed a chance of a live final that could just happen and I certainly do not rule that out and I honestly think that that will also be the boost that this show will need," Nijkamp added.
Strategic Contract Management
The transition to a joint Dutch-Belgian venture also provides a seamless opportunity for the network to refresh the talent pool without creating public relations issues.
"Yes, then the jury will also change and that will also change without loss of face.
The contracts, it turns out from various sides, are concluded for two years, so they can easily get rid of them without losing face," Nijkamp stated regarding the strategic contracts.
The restructured platform allows the network to smoothly transition judges out of their roles by attributing the departures directly to the international merger.
"Then they can say: 'Yes, they are going to join the Belgians now, so we understand that my place has to be given up.'
Well, I honestly think that then, for example, in terms of the jury, a number of people will remain," Nijkamp continued.
Regarding specific panel members, Nijkamp expects the popular music duo Suzan & Freek to retain their coaching chairs due to their cross-border appeal.
"I think Suzan & Freek, should Freek's health allow it, because they are also very popular in Belgium. They could stay," Nijkamp noted regarding the duo's regional popularity.
However, the shifting strategy means other established Dutch personalities on the coaching panel face a much higher risk of replacement.
"But I think for example that a Dinand Woesthoff or a Willie Wartaal, that we would have to fear for them in terms of new momentum for the Voice-Belgium-Netherlands adventure," Nijkamp concluded.
