The consortium of telecom parties (Delta Fiber, KPN, Odido and VodafoneZiggo) is doing everything it can to prevent Disney/ESPN from closing an official deal with the Eredivisie CV for the broadcasting rights of the Eredivisie. In September, among others, Football International and The Telegraph that ESPN had reached an agreement with the Eredivisie CV (ECV) about extending the contract. However, there is no official deal yet and if the consortium has its way, that will not happen.
ESPN’s previous contract with the Eredivisie CV ran until 2025, but with the new contract that contract would be extended by five years. The total deal would be worth 750 million euros, which amounts to approximately 135 million euros per year, excluding a signing bonus of 70 million. With the new deal, all matches in the Kitchen Champion Division and Azerion Women’s Eredivisie would also be broadcast live. The clubs still have to vote on the ESPN deal.
The consortium of cable companies is also a candidate to buy the Eredivisie rights, but seemed to be missing out because of the announced deal between the ECV and ESPN. However, the cable companies do not accept the impending official agreement. The telecom parties have asked the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) to investigate the negotiation process.
According to the consortium, the ‘exclusive negotiation and impending deal between ECV and Disney/ESPN regarding the television rights of the Eredivisie’ violates the so-called ‘cartel prohibition’. The ACM has the option to oblige the clubs, ECV and Disney to a transparent payment process.
In May, the cable providers offered in a letter an annual amount of at least 180 million euros net per season for the rights. Well more than what ESPN would pay per year for the broadcast rights. “We can only guess what the underlying reason is for refusing this,” a spokesperson said. “We therefore feel compelled to take the step towards the ACM. We would rather sit around the table with the ECV and the clubs, but so far we have not been offered a single seat.” The spokesperson also said that the net offer of 180 million euros still stands.
When news of the deal between ESPN and ECV reached the media, it led to a fierce reaction from the telecom providers. The consortium sent a letter to the ECV to discuss the television rights, but that has not led to anything so far. That is why it is now turning directly to the ACM, in the hope that that authority can intervene. The ACM has started an investigation, but it is still unclear whether action can be taken. The consortium advocates that the Eredivisie clubs wait to conclude an official deal until the investigation has been completed.