Last night the new Dutch Talk TV channel Het Gesprek (‘The Conversation’) started broadcasting to about six million Dutch homes. The new station concentrates on a 24-hour talk format with both live and recorded programming, mostly interviews. Although the new broadcaster employs only 12 people, there will be about 100 journalists and hosts from all walks of life to present the shows. Each programme lasts at least one hour.
The channel was started by two media entrepeneurs, Derk Sauer, Ruud Hendriks and former talk show host Frits Barend. Funding will be by advertising and carriage payments. When established earlier this year, the original idea was to start as a niche streaming web TV channel, but gradually the concept developed into a digital channel with analogue distribution windows.
Het Gesprek is now available on most digital platforms from cable operators and IPTV providers KPN and Tele 2, with additional distribution over the Canal Digitaal Satelliet DTH platform and an analogue window on home shopping channel LiveShop from 7pm – midnight. The station is also available as a live web stream with on-demand capability for individual programmes.
