Dutch operators outbid ESPN for Eredivisie rights with €2 billion offer

Dutch TV operators KPN, VodafoneZiggo, T-Mobile and Delta have proposed a joint-offering of €2 billion for Eredivisie’s broadcasting rights over a 10-year period from 2025-20355, outbidding current rights-holder ESPN.

ESPN had made an offer to the club for broadcasting rights for the same 10-year period of €1.5 billion, reports De Telegraaf.

Dutch trade NOS confirms, the four companies have submitted their offer to Eredivisie CV director Jan de Jong and the media committee of the Eredivisie clubs on Tuesday April 25 2023. While according to Dutch publication VI, the costs for the clubs have already been deducted from the sum offered.

The news of the joint-venture between Delta, KPN, T-Mobile and VodafoneZiggo was first announced by Broadcast Magazine NL, reported earlier this month on Digital TV Europe.

Disney-owned ESPN has held exclusive rights to Eredivisie since 2013,. The proposal from the four telco operators is an aim to bring rights back to Netherlands and “make football more widely available via TV”, but are not requesting for exclusive rights of the football league.

The board has yet to make comment on both offers, it is to consider the two proposals from the bidders over the upcoming weeks.