Belgium investigates Telenet over rising football subscription costs

Belgian Consumer Protection Minister Rob Beenders has called for investigations into rising costs for football fans following a new broadcasting agreement for the Jupiler Pro League. While a deal between the league and rights holder DAZN allows operators like Proximus, Orange, and Telenet to offer the competition again, the cost of access has increased significantly.

Specifically, Telenet is under scrutiny for its pricing structure. To access the league, customers may need to combine Play Sports (19.99 euros per month) with DAZN Total (24.99 euros per month), totaling 34.99 euros monthly. Beenders noted that similar packages cost approximately 20 euros two years ago, representing a 15-euro increase.

The Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) has been tasked with examining whether these rate increases are justified. Additionally, the Belgian Competition Authority will investigate whether Telenet’s method of bundling football content with telecom services creates unfair competitive advantages.