Lubach‘s Show Pauses, Set for olympic Games Return Despite High Production Costs
Arjen Lubach’s popular late-night program has entered a winter hiatus following its season finale on December 22nd, with the show slated to return on February 2nd, coinciding with coverage of the Olympic Games. The break allows Lubach to enjoy a substantial salary from RTL, according to reports. The finale, which included a Christmas song and a hopeful nod towards a potential “Christmas cabinet,” drew an audience of 699,000 viewers.
The timing of Lubach’s return is noteworthy, according to media analyst Tina Nijkamp, given the program’s significant production expense. “They are now going on winter vacation and he will return on February 2nd. So he will also be on display during the Olympic Games,” Nijkamp stated on her instagram analysis channel.
Lubach’s show is estimated to cost approximately 80,000 euros for each half-hour episode – considerably more than typical talk shows. Nijkamp compared the cost to RTL Tonight, which runs between 35,000 and 40,000 euros per episode without a host, and approximately 70,000 euros including a host.
Despite the high cost, the program’s broadcast during the Olympics is considered a strategic move. Nijkamp observed, “Those matches are until 10 p.m., so its just after, but everyone is always on NPO 1 with those kinds of sporting events.” This suggests a intentional scheduling choice to capitalize on the large viewership expected during the Games.
