Dutch parliament: Scrap high prices charges to show football matches on big screens

A parliamentary majority has made a “moral appeal” to NOS to scrap the high prices charged to show European Championship matches on big screens. According to VVD parliamentarian Arend Kisteman, the high charges are preventing entrepreneurs from organizing Oranje parties, and “that cannot be the intention.” The broadcaster said it would see what it could do.

Earlier this week, RTL Nieuws reported that few entrepreneurs were organizing screenings of Oranje’s European Championship matches because it was simply too expensive. Entrepreneurs who want to place a big screen must pay 3.12 euros per expected watcher to the Videma foundation, which collects the license fees for rights holders. NOS holds the rights to the European Championship.

The payable amount is based on expected turnout, not actual turnout. So, an entrepreneur who places a screen on a square that can take 2,500 visitors has to pay 7,800 euros to Videma, even if the weather turns foul and no one shows up.

That is madness, according to Kisteman. “NOS is financed from taxpayers’ money. So indirectly, entrepreneurs have already paid for these rights. The European Football Championship is intended for people to enjoy. Not to hurt entrepreneurs.” A parliamentary majority supported that sentiment and Kisteman’s motion for NOS to scrap the fees.

On Thursday evening, NOS said it took the criticism to heart and would speak with the parties involved, including Videma and NPO. “We attach importance to the fact that everyone can enjoy the matches of the Dutch national team,” a spokesperson said, without saying whether the licensing costs would be adjusted.

Videma has been collecting licensing fees for public screenings since 2019. The matter is only now coming to a head because, for the first time since then, Oranje is playing in a major tournament during the summer months and without coronavirus restrictions.