Belgian Talk Show Wars: Eric Goens vs Tine Embrechts
Leuven — May 17, 2024 — The Belgian talk show viewership is currently experiencing a battle between Eric Goens’ newcomer, “Bar Goens,” and Tine Embrechts’ “Tine’s Table.” Initial viewership figures have ignited a debate, displaying the potential of Goens’ show to outperform it’s competitor. Based on the latest data,Goens is making a splash in the talk show ratings. The situation demands further analysis in the context of competition between the two talk shows.
Belgian Talk Show Wars: Eric Goens challenges tine Embrechts
The newcomer’s surge
A new contender has entered the Belgian talk show arena,and the initial results are surprising. Bar Goens, hosted by Eric Goens, initially seemed to lag behind Tine’s Table, hosted by Tine Embrechts, on Play4. Though,delayed viewing figures have dramatically shifted the landscape.
The premiere episode of Bar Goens drew over 90,000 viewers within seven days of its live broadcast, ultimately reaching a total of 311,699 viewers, according to CIM study figures. In comparison, Tine’s Table garnered 250,087 viewers.
Did You Know?
CIM,or Centrum voor Informatie over de Media,is the association in Belgium responsible for measuring media audiences,similar to nielsen in the United States.
Beyond the Premiere: A Growing Audience
While complete delayed viewing data isn’t yet available for subsequent episodes, initial indications suggest a continued strong performance for Bar Goens. Except for the may 1 holiday (which drew 184,074 viewers), Goens consistently attracted over 200,000 viewers. His show,broadcast from a café on Leuven’s Oude Markt,is reportedly drawing larger audiences than Tine’s Table,which airs as part of The Appointment.
This is particularly noteworthy because Bar Goens starts shortly before 10 p.m., while Tine’s Table airs during primetime as part of The Appointment at 8:20 p.m. and 8:35 p.m., respectively.
Play4 Responds: Apples and Oranges?
Play4, the network airing Tine’s Table, downplays the direct comparison. The programs are in a completely different time slot. You can’t compare that,
says spokeswoman Barbara Salomon.
The network acknowledges a dip in primetime viewership last week. While Tine’s Table averaged over 300,000 viewers in the preceding weeks,last week’s average was 234,000.These figures include repeats, which the CIM doesn’t factor into the Bar Goens numbers. Including repeats,Bar Goens reached an average of almost 304,000 viewers,and the Appointment reached 257,945.
Pro Tip: Understanding Viewership Metrics
In the television industry, “live” viewership refers to viewers watching a program at its scheduled broadcast time. “Delayed” or “time-shifted” viewership includes those who record the program and watch it later, typically within a week. Total viewership combines both live and delayed viewers to provide a complete picture of a show’s audience.
Salomon attributes the decline in tine’s Table viewership to external factors: The slight relapse in Tine’s Table we declare the good weather and the vacation day. People started their TV evening later or had other plans. We also see that in the primetime of other channels.
She notes that Tine’s Table maintained its market share, and The Appointment on VRT Canvas also experienced a decrease on Wednesday. Embrechts is secure in her position,having already been asked to fill in for regular presenter Gert Verhulst during his upcoming fall leave.
The Return of Verhulst and Shifting Tides
VTM spokesperson Julie Colpaert stated, It is still too early to evaluate, but we are satisfied wiht the first figures.
While the initial numbers point to gains for Goens, questions remain about how the ratings will evolve with Gert Verhulst’s return to The Table.
On Monday, a colder day and the last with Tine Embrechts as host, The Table drew over 190,000 live viewers, though still 50,000 fewer than bar Goens. However, on Tuesday, Verhulst’s return boosted viewership to 237,541, while Goens had 189,736, according to the CIM. The Appointment, which follows Gert’s Table, also felt the impact, drawing 160,711 viewers.
