Sports broadcaster Fox and telecoms group KPN are embroiled in a legal spat over Fox Sports 1, the sports channel which includes Eredivisie football.

Fox Sports 1 is currently available to KPN’s cable clients as an additional service, but Fox wants it to be included in the standard package of programmes. This would make the basic package more expensive for all clients, not just those who watch football.

‘Fox is making new demands which we do not consider to be in the interest of our viewers,’ KPN chief executive told broadcaster NOS.

The current contract between Fox and KPN expires at the end of this month and the football season begins in early August. KPN has now gone to court in an effort to end the dispute. The court will rule this week.

Vodafone has agreed to Fox’s new demands and its customers will all pay between €1.50 and €2.50 more a month for the standard programme package, website Nu.nl said.