Videoland to acquire Viaplay Netherlands following regulatory approval

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has approved the acquisition of Viaplay Netherlands by Videoland, a service owned by DPG Media. The deal, valued at approximately 142 million euros, allows Videoland to integrate Viaplay’s sports rights and programming into its own streaming platform.

The acquisition includes broadcasting rights for various major sporting events, such as Formula 1, the Premier League, darts, hockey, and the men’s and women’s World Cups for 2027, 2029, and 2031. Approximately 50 employees from Viaplay Netherlands will transition to DPG Media as part of the agreement.

The ACM concluded that the takeover would not negatively impact viewers, the procurement of sports rights, or the advertising market, noting that sufficient competition will remain. The regulator also observed that because Viaplay Netherlands does not operate as a news platform, its impact on public opinion is minimal. Viaplay, a Swedish company, is selling its Dutch operations to focus exclusively on the North European market.