NOS to broadcast Champions League

Dutch public broadcaster NOS has been granted the free-to-air television broadcast rights for the UEFA Champions League for 2006 to 2009 for the Netherlands. The pay-TV rights were recently awarded to UPC and broadcasters were invited to submit tenders for the remaining packages. NOS will show two live games per match week, one on Tuesday and one on Wednesday. A highlights programme will also be transmitted on Wednesday. NOS has broadcast free-to-air transmissions of Champions League matches in the Netherlands since the start of the competition. Last week UEFA awarded the French-speaking Champions League rights for Belgium to RTL-TVI and the Dutch-speaking rights to Flemish broadcaster VTM. UEFA stated that competition in the Belgian market was very strong with “impressive offers from four major free-to-air broadcasters, including state broadcasters RTBF and VRT.” The Dutch-speaking rights for UEFA Champions League have been held by VRT since the inception of the competition in 1992. However, for the upcoming 2006-09 period, the offer submitted by VTM was considered superior to VRT's. "Bids were also received in respect of pay TV rights," UEFA added. "However, the levels of these offers did not match UEFA's expectations and it has been decided at this stage not to finalise any arrangements to allow further negotiations with the interested parties. Further developments will be communicated in due course."

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