Pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports is competing with rival operator Sport1, the current rights-holder to Formula One in the Netherlands, for the motor-racing series’ next cycle of media rights, according to De Telegraaf.
Ian Holmes, head of media rights at Formula One Management, told the Dutch newspaper that a contract taking effect from the 2016 season is expected to be concluded with one of the two broadcasters in the coming weeks.
Sport1’s current three-year rights deal with FOM is due to run through to the end of the 2015 Formula One season. Commercial broadcaster Veronica has a sublicensing deal with Sport1 for race highlights and a limited number of live events.
F1 has a strong fan base in the Netherlands, with interest set to increase further next season when a Dutch driver returns to the grid. Max Verstappen (pictured) will race for Toro Rosso in 2015 at the age of 17 – becoming the youngest driver in the sport’s history.