SBS takes on KNVB club football rights from Fox

Dutch commercial broadcaster SBS has agreed a three-year deal with the Fox International Channels broadcast subsidiary of media company 21st Century Fox under which it will take on some of its domestic club football rights.

In November 2013, Eredivisie Media and Marketing, which is controlled by FIC, agreed a four-year rights deal with the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) running from the 2014-15 to 2017-18 seasons.

Under the deal, highlights of domestic club cup competition the KNVB Beker have been broadcast by digital general entertainment channel Fox, along with live coverage of the semi-finals and final of the annual tournament. Pay-television channel Fox Sports has shown up to six games per round from the second round of the competition.

Season-opening event the Johan Cruijff Schaal, played between the winner of the Eredivisie and KNVB Beker, was also due to be broadcast by Fox over the four-year term.

However, under the new deal between SBS and Fox, the SBS6 channel will now broadcast the KNVB Beker semi-finals and final, along with the Johan Cruijff Schaal.

The agreement is effective for three years, from the 2015-16 to 2017-18 seasons.