This is Stéphane Kox’s successor at Viaplay
No more Stéphane Kox
Earlier this year, Stéphane Kox decided to put an end to her TV career at Viaplay. For only one season, the Eindhoven native was the pit reporter for the streaming service, after which she decided not to renew her contract. She indicated that she wants to resume her law studies, which she had put on the back burner for the television job, and get behind the wheel of a race car a little more often herself.
Successor
So Viaplay had to look for a replacement pit reporter and found one in Chiel van Koldenhoven. The 28-year-old presenter comes over from NOS where he mainly reported on the Dutch national team and occasionally made items around F1. In 2021, he was named Sports Journalism Talent of the Year.
Does Chiel van Koldenhoven have enough knowledge?
Viaplay, which holds the broadcasting rights to Formula One starting in season 2022, is receiving enormous criticism. On the technical problems in the app, from the picture quality to the commentary during the races. Everything passes, but especially the latter is a thorny issue for many F1 viewers. Indeed, the public finds the level of the “connoisseurs” very low, which is why commentators Nelson Valkenburg and Melroy Heemskerk can (for now) count on few words of praise. A big name pit reporter might have been able to do something about that rookie image of Viaplay. So Viaplay does not. At least with the arrival of Chiel van Koldenhoven, who thus mainly has a soccer background, Viaplay seems to stick to its chosen strategy of bringing in young presenters. Whether he will appeal to the discerning F1 public we will see next season!
