A consortium of four telecom companies has withdrawn its complaint to the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) over Disney-ESPN’s acquisition of the rights to top-flight Dutch football.
Delta Fiber, KPN, Odido and VodafoneZiggo had asked ACM to take action against the granting of a licence for the broadcasting rights of Eredivisie football by ECV to Disney. The current contract runs until the end of the 2024/25 football season.
Eredivisie CV, the league’s marketing body, and the 18 Eredivisie clubs reached a negotiated outcome that handed the broadcast rights to ESPN through until 2030.
Financial terms have not been disclosed, but is believed to be in the region of €750 million.
The four telcos believed the rights should have been sold through a public tender.
In a statement, the ACM said it saw no reason as why the agreement between Eredivisie CV and EMM (Disney) should be seen as contrary to competition law.
The information was shared with the consortium, who withdrew their request.
Given the complaint has now been withdrawn the ACM will not now make a final ruling.