KPN keeps ESPN free for broadband and TV customers
August 3, 2026 11.48 Europe/London By Julian Clover


Dutch operator KPN has renewed its carriage agreement with ESPN, keeping the sports network available at no extra cost for eligible customers as the new Eredivisie football season gets underway.

Customers taking KPN’s bundled services can continue to select ESPN as part of the operator’s Combivoordeel loyalty programme, avoiding the €2.50 monthly football surcharge recently introduced by rival Ziggo.

KPN said the approach means customers who do not watch football are not required to subsidise sports rights, while football fans can continue receiving ESPN without paying an additional fee.

From 6 August, KPN will also upgrade all four ESPN channels to UHD, giving customers with compatible TV+ receivers access to live Eredivisie matches in ultra-high definition at no additional cost.

Alongside UHD coverage, KPN is highlighting integrated football features including live goal alerts from other Eredivisie matches, exclusive highlights through its TV+ platform and live streaming via its mobile app.

The announcement underlines the growing competition between Dutch broadband providers, with premium sports rights increasingly being used as a differentiator alongside broadband and TV services rather than as standalone subscriptions.