Fox agrees carriage deals for Eredivisie channel

The Fox International Channels broadcast subsidiary of media company 21st Century Fox has agreed carriage deals with Dutch cable-television providers UPC and Canal Digitaal Satelliet for its new Fox Sports Eredivisie and Fox Sports International pay-television channels.

The channels launched yesterday and the two new deals follow Fox’s first carriage agreement with the country’s largest cable operator, Ziggo.

The RTL Nieuws website said Fox remains in talks with KPN and a number of smaller cable companies about carriage deals.

Eredivisie Live has been rebranded as Fox Sports Eredivisie after Fox last year acquired a 51-per-cent stake in Eredivisie Media and Marketing, the media company that owns rights for the top division of Dutch football and controls Eredivisie Live.

Through the 12-year agreement, spanning 2013-14 to 2024-25, Fox controls the live and highlights rights to the Eredivisie.

The 2013-14 Eredivisie commences today as reigning champion Ajax takes on Roda JC and there had been concerns over a lack of carriage deals for Fox Sports Eredivisie ahead of the start of the new season.