United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) has been awarded the exclusive pay-TV rights for the UEFA Champions League in the Netherlands for the next three seasons, 2003-2006.
Under this deal with UPC, a new broadcaster of the UEFA Champions League, viewers in the Netherlands will be able to watch all UEFA Champions League matches live and in full for the first time via eight channels on their new digital TV service.
Viewers will have the possibility to choose the live match of their favourite football team, alternate between games, or will be able to choose which of the other games they would like to watch later.
The free-to-air TV rights have been granted to NOS who will broadcast the first pick on Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as the highlights programmes on both match days. These first pick games will therefore be shown simultaneously on free-to-air TV (NOS) and on pay-TV (UPC).
Commenting on the announcement UEFA CEO, Gerhard Aigner, said: "This is another good deal for followers of the UEFA Champions League. UPC’s coverage means that football fans in the Netherlands will be offered the widest possible choice of options for viewing UEFA Champions League matches over the forthcoming three seasons. We are pleased to welcome UPC to our family of broadcast partners."
John F. Riordan, CEO and president of UPC, said: "We are delighted that we have succeeded in acquiring these rights. This is great news for football fans in the Netherlands. We have great plans with a new digital television approach of top-level football.
"This approach is only possible through digital technology and it will show the enormous possibilities that digital television will have now and in the future. We are also very grateful for the confidence UEFA has placed in UPC."
UEFA and its partnering agency TEAM Marketing has signed off one of the last remaining TV rights contracts for the Champions League after concluding a deal with Dutch pay-TV broadcaster UPC.
