Nelson Valkenburg from Viaplay in conversation with Max Verstappen.© ANP / HH
Erik van Haren
Thursday April 18, 2024 at 3:51 PM
Amsterdam
Formula 1 will continue to be shown in the Netherlands on Viaplay in the coming years. The streaming service has signed a new top deal with the management of the premier class and is now assured of the rights until 2029, several sources report.
The Swedish company pays a large sum of money for these rights. This reportedly amounts to at least 45 million euros per year. The previous deal, from 2022 to 2024, amounted to approximately thirty million per season.
Formula 1 is still immensely popular in the Netherlands, of course largely due to the success of Max Verstappen. The sport itself has experienced enormous growth worldwide in recent years. It is therefore not surprising that even more has to be paid to broadcast the races.
Also read: From car cleaner to F1 commentator. Melroy (35) is living his boyhood dream as a Viaplay reporter
There was a lot to do regarding Viaplay in the past period. A rescue plan was launched at the beginning of this year. The streaming service withdrew from a number of countries and Canal+ and the Czech investment company PPF acquired a joint stake of 58.6 percent in Viaplay, to help the company grow once more and get out of debt. A CEO was also appointed in the Netherlands: Roger Lodewick. Marco Zwaneveld has served as head of sport since the start in 2022. Nelson Valkenburg and Melroy Heemskerk are the regular commentators, with Chiel van Koldenhoven as pit reporter since last season.
Sole
Earlier this month it was announced that Viaplay in the Netherlands has concluded a deal with Talpa. The channel SBS9 was renamed Viaplay TV and since April 5, images of Formula 1, Premier League, Bundesliga and darts have also been shown on that channel.
The new Dutch Formula 1 deal is expected to be officially revealed later this month. Formula 1 management and Viaplay’s ‘sports boss’ Peter Nørrelund have been asked for a response, but they refrained from commenting.
Also read: From car cleaner to F1 commentator. Melroy (35) is living his boyhood dream as a Viaplay reporter
