October 10 – ESPN has agreed an extension to its broadcast rights for the Netherlands’ Eredivisie, Eerste Divisie and KNVB Beker until 2030.
ESPN has held the Dutch domestic rights since 2013. The new deal will continue the current agreement, which is set to expire at the end of the 2024-25 season, for a further five seasons at €150 million per season.
Although unanimously by 18 Eredivisie clubs, it was not without conspiracy.
Four rival telecom bidders – VodafoneZiggo, Delta, KPN, and T-Mobile – have complained to Dutch regulators (the Authority for Consumers and Markets – ACM) that their bid would have delivered more money (€180 million) per season, as well as giving the clubs more flexibility within the contract and further revenue opportunity.
Despite asking the ACM to step in and regualte the ESPN deal, the six Eredivisie clubs comprising the advisory committee to the Eredivisie during the negotiation process – including the Dutch ‘big-3’ of Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, and Ajax – recommended staying with ESPN.
The deal includes the Dutch Women’s Premier Division, the Eredivisie Vrouwen, which the league said would receive “substantial” revenue increases under the new arrangement.
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