Public broadcaster Nos has been ordered to give more information about what it pays to broadcast Eredivisie football match highlights by media minister Sander Dekker.

The fee is currently confidential under the terms of the agreement with the Eredivisie’s broadcasting rights company.

Dekker, who was responding to questions from VVD MP Ton Elias, says the secrecy clause is unsatisfactory given the deal involves public money.
Dekker says he will release the information to parliament on conditions of strict confidentiality, website nu.nl reported.

Elias has welcomed the decision, saying MPs will be able to assess if public money is being wasted.

Competition

Elias supports tightening up the media law to define the precise job of public broadcasters. ‘This will improve commercial broadcasters’ rights to fair competition,’ he said.

Nos director Jan de Jong said on Nos radio that the minister is already aware of the cost and going public will have a damaging impact on tendering for broadcast rights in the future.

‘The Nos costs a Dutch family €1.47 a month, of which 60 cent goes on sport,’ he said.

Rights

Nos retained the rights to broadcast highlights from Eredivisie football matches until the end of the 2016/17 season earlier this year.

In 2012, Fox International, the broadcasting group owned by media magnate Rupert Murdoch, took over Eredivisie Media & Marketing, the broadcast arm of Dutch premier league football. At the time, commentators said the highlights might transfer to Fox when the contract expired.

Under Dutch media law, the football highlights must be broadcast on a channel accessible to 75% of the viewing public, without extra costs.