Harry Mens critical of TV ratings research: 'The boxes are at Aunt Sjaan's house'
Presenter Harry Mens has criticized the Dutch television viewership measurement system, arguing that the small sample size fails to accurately reflect the audience for his program Business Class. He disputes official data showing zero viewers for his recent episode, claiming his affluent target demographic is not represented by the current tracking methodology.
Television presenter Harry Mens has voiced strong criticism regarding the methodology used by the Nationaal Media Onderzoek to measure viewership in the Netherlands. During an interview on De 538 Ochtendshow, Mens dismissed recent data indicating that his RTL 7 program, Business Class, failed to reach a measurable audience over the weekend. He argued that the small sample size of fifteen hundred households equipped with measurement devices is unrepresentative of his specific target demographic, which consists of affluent individuals and viewers over fifty. Mens asserted that these viewers are unlikely to participate in such studies.
Despite the reported low figures, Mens remains unconcerned about the impact on his program, noting that his advertisers remain satisfied with the results. Having hosted Business Class for nearly thirty years, he expressed his intention to continue the show indefinitely. The presenter emphasized that he does not lose sleep over the official metrics, remaining confident that his actual reach far exceeds what is captured by current industry standards.
Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
