Fox can demand KPN rethinks cable package: court

Photo: Depositphotos.com
Photo: Depositphotos.com

Fox is entitled to demand that its sports channel Fox Sports 1 is included in KPN’s basic television package and that it is paid a fee per subscriber, judges said on Friday in a preliminary ruling.

The current contract between KPN and Fox expires on August 1 and the broadcasting company is now able to make new demands on KPN, the court said.

KPN wants to continue to offer Fox’s channels as an extra package but Fox wants Fox Sports 1, which includes Eredivisie football, to be added to the basic package. That would boost the cost of a subscription by some €2.

Vodafone has already agreed to Fox’s demands and its subscribers face a €2.50 monthly hike, even though 90% do not watch the sports channels, the Telegraaf said.

It is unclear as yet what the impact of the court ruling will be on KPN television viewers, the Telegraaf said.

KPN and several other cable companies have made a formal complaint to the competition authority ACM about Fox abusing its market position.

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