Dutch government grants football footage to media

The Dutch Parliament approved yesterday (Wednesday) a new bill which grants the country's media the right to screen up to 90 seconds of footage from the Eredivisie and Jupiler League (1st Division) matches during their news shows.

The new bill, initiated by the Dutch socialists political party PVDA, will get into force at the beginning of the 2009/10 season.

"We have a big problem with the new regulation," said Alex Tielbeke, the Eredivisie chief. "It means that television stations could now air all the action and goals." Tielbeke also believes that the new regulation violates the Eredivisie copyright and the body will now consider legal steps.