On air at Omroep Tholen

It all happens in a self-built studio on the business park in Tholen: it is the home base of the local media of Omroep Tholen. During a conversation with treasurer and secretary Floris and chairman Laban, we take a look at the past, present and future of Omroep Tholen.

How was your experience at the DAB+ days organized by Broadcast Partners?

It was an enjoyable and informative evening. Enough was told about DAB+ in our view, presentations were clear. We were definitely satisfied with the outcome.

What was the original idea and inspiration behind the creation of Omroep Tholen?

We had a pirate station here in Tholen called Pinokkio. When it became more difficult to broadcast, Stichting lokale omroep Tholen (SLOTH) was founded. That’s where it started. That was 39 years ago now. As Omroep Tholen we had license number 1 as a broadcasting license, the very first so. We have continued that for 39 years. There have also been times when it was close to the abyss. That at the end of the year we didn’t have a penny left to pay the rent.

Can you tell us more about Omroep Tholen’s role within the local community and how you are strengthening it?

Not to be forgotten is the website. If something happens in the neighborhood we put it directly on the website and within 8 minutes it is also on television. So we are a very active local broadcaster, and one of the few in Zeeland that also makes and publishes its own news. We have a good relationship with the municipality. The mayor was at his wit’s end during the corona period, so that’s when we started helping. We started Teams broadcasts. The City Council then met through Teams and we broadcast that. They are still so grateful to us for that, that the mayor visits us every two weeks. We were also given the old equipment that was in the City Council meeting room as a gift.

What target group(s) does Omroep Tholen mainly focus on?

From Monday to Friday we have live radio. In terms of music, we’re a bit between the 70s and 90s, that’s our format. We also do a Dutch song every hour, which can be a bit more modern. But Wednesday night is the best night for us, because then we do spiritual music. First gospel music and then psalms and hymns. We get requests for that from all over the Netherlands. Of course, we do tune our format a little bit to the locals.

Are you involved in forming a regional broadcaster?

Yes indeed. NLPO has assigned Zeeland Broadcasting Corporation Tholen to West Brabant, and there have now been talks between the broadcasters in that area. But Zeeland and Brabant broadcasters in one regional broadcaster; that just doesn’t fit together very well. We also have a very different way of working than the Brabant broadcasters. Our fear is to become an insignificant part of the regional Omroep West, and then we are no longer a local broadcaster. We do believe that Omroep Tholen, Omroep Tholen should remain Omroep Tholen, and the Tholen college agrees.

What has been your experience with Broadcast Partners and how has this partnership contributed to the growth and development of your broadcaster?

We have been working together for many years. A lot of stuff that’s here in the technical room comes from Broadcast Partners. We also have cable TV, for example. Until one day there was a failure in that and the TV broadcasts could go out at any moment. Then we came to Broadcast Partners, and they offered us a good and affordable solution. The municipality of Tholen was very happy with that, so they covered those costs for us. The contacts with Broadcast Partners are good, and if anything is wrong, it is solved in no time.

How do you see the future of your broadcast, regarding the rise of new media and podcasts?

Coincidentally, we just recorded our first podcast, for International Women’s Day. If there is a demand for that and we can offer it, we will definitely do it more often. We want to move with the times, it’s very simple.

In conversation with Laban Hage and Floris Langendam of Omroep Tholen

Photo: Omroep Tholen

Website: Broadcaster Tholen