Ziggo currently only streams some European football matches of Dutch clubs through the Ziggo Go app. Older viewers will definitely not be happy with that. An elderly association is now urging the media regulator to intervene, but will it succeed?
The interest group for the elderly ANBO-PCOB has a Media Authority now ASK to stop VodafoneZiggo’s decision. The cable company has the broadcasting rights to broadcast European football exclusively and, from this time on, will only do so through its own Ziggo GO app for some Dutch club matches.
This is still possible free of charge with a free Ziggo Sport account, even for non-Ziggo customers. But anyone who just wants to watch some matches of the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League on television will have to stream the television images from another device, for example a phone and Chromecast.
It is unacceptable, according to ANBO-PCOB, which fears that some elderly people without digital skills will be left behind. “They still have an older model of television, they don’t have a smartphone for streaming, they don’t have the right equipment for it or they don’t know how to do it. People who want to watch through the app have to have the right equipment and digital skills to be able to install it.” The senior citizens’ association wants all European matches of Dutch clubs to be rebroadcast through linear channels.
Is Ziggo allowed to do this?
In the Netherlands, European matches of national clubs fall under the events included in the Media Act. This law requires that certain events must be broadcast through an open channel. An open channel is only available if it can be viewed by more than three quarters of households without additional costs.
Ziggo Sport has an open sports channel for subscribers, but it covers about 45 percent of households. By making the app available to everyone in combination with a free subscription, Ziggo is convinced that it operates within the Media Act. However, the interest group says that the elderly may have to pay because their devices may be too old to run the Ziggo GO app.
Hopeless resistance?
The elders almost shouted it, but it looks like the interest group’s request will fail. VodafoneZiggo has submitted its online offering of football matches with Ziggo GO as an ‘open channel’ to the Media Authority. Other providers are testing similar watchdog services.
In addition, VodafoneZiggo holds walk-in consultation hours in its physical stores to advise people and provide information about the new way of watching football in Europe. It doesn’t matter if you are a customer or with another provider. In the coming months, European matches can also be watched together in several football canteens.
Read more news about Ziggo and don’t miss anything on our popular WhatsApp channel.