Videoland acquires Viaplay Netherlands' sports licences and subscriber base

The Autoriteit Consument & Markt gave the green light for Videoland to take over the sports licences and subscriber base of Viaplay Netherlands. This move brings Formula 1, English football, darts and hockey to a platform that has mainly offered films, series and programmes. The competition authority concluded that the deal will not make Videoland overly large in the advertising market, noting that Viaplay's viewership and advertiser base were relatively modest.

Viaplay retains the right to broadcast Formula 1 in the Netherlands until the end of 2029, after which the licence could be re-auctioned. The acquisition follows Viaplay's broader retreat from several markets due to financial difficulties. Videoland is part of RTL Nederland, which was previously acquired by DPG after regulator approval.