Women lost 150 million in a new TV deal – VG

The sums amount to 360 and 210 million in six years, respectively.

– We can confirm that in our bet we had solid plans to also lift the Toppserien and Obos league. Our total package would have been very positive for the development of women’s football and would have provided them with significantly more than 35 million NOK annually, says Altibox Director Tor Morten Osmundsen and Telenor CEO Camilla Amundsen. in a joint statement to VG.

Knut Kristvang on Fotball Media’s bargaining committee says he does not want to comment on offers that may have been received after they began an exclusive trading period with TV 2.

Jan Erik Fåne reacts strongly to the news that VG announces to him. He is chairman of the board of directors of Toppfotball Kvinner (TFK) and stated during the soccer process with media players that women were treated differently.

– I think it is incomprehensible that in 2020 we will not treat women’s and men’s football equally. We are risking decision makers opting for a package that is better for men’s football and not seeing a bet that benefits women’s football, Fåne said last week.

Must have received insurance

Unlike the men’s clubs at NTF, the women were not allowed to participate in the negotiations about who should be able to buy the television rights between 2023 and 2028.

– It is very surprising to hear that there has been a significantly higher supply in women’s football. If the NFF has had the opportunity to increase the framework for women’s football and did not use it, I am very surprised, Fåne tells VG.

She adds that early Friday the NFF assured her that the TV 2 offer meant the highest sum for women.

– We have been informed that NOK 35 million per year from TV 2 is the highest bid. Of course we expected more. Nor have we received any information about what is in the concepts or possibilities in the different offers. We are disappointed, says the chairman of the board.

– It’s hard to make it rhyme. If there has been a significantly higher offer, it is strange that they have not accepted it or that they have not negotiated the price of the highest women’s football with TV 2. But we have not had an idea of ​​this process.

NFF President Terje Svendsen defends the agreement. See what it says later in the article.

Read also: TV 2 bought Norwegian football for 4,500 million

Telenor / Altibox confirms the offer

In a press release on Friday afternoon, Svendsen and the Norwegian Football Association stated that the deal with TV 2 is worth NOK 4.5 billion over six years.

210 million are allocated in principle to women’s football, which is equivalent to 35 million a year, but it still remains for TFK to know how the NFF intends to distribute the funds.

The association probably keeps a certain part, while the rest is distributed to the women’s clubs.

Football Media’s negotiating committee included General Manager Kristvang, NFF General Secretary Pål Bjerketvedt, NTF Director Leif Øverland, and Rune Hauge.

– I cannot comment on the details of the bids in a bidding process, even after the rights have been granted. We have related and evaluated the figures, concepts and development plans that went into the bids in the bidding round, where 35 million was the highest single price, hence the number in the press release, not the subsequent figures, possibly later . we are entering an exclusive trading period, writes Knut Kristvang in an SMS to VG.

Next, VG asked if Fotball Media had made a mistake in accepting TV 2’s demand for an exclusive trading right, something VG mentioned on Thursday. Kristvang has not responded to this question.

The response of the president of the NFF

The president of football, Svendsen, for his part, is “very satisfied” with the framework of the recently concluded agreement. In total, the contract ensures Norwegian football 750 million per year and a great exposure on TV 2 and on the surfaces of partner NRK.

– What was decisive for TV 2 to win the contract?

– It was a global assessment of the offer that was delivered. Both the commercial framework and that it was a solid and comprehensive concept for all of Norwegian football.

– Women’s football is valued at less than five percent of the total value of the signed contract. How do you rate it?

– It is an increase of ten times compared to what we have in the current period. In other European countries, few come close to this. I would like to see it higher, but it is a step in the right direction. So we will have to work very hard in the coming years to increase the commercial value of women’s football.

– According to information from VG, the Telenor / Altibox offer amounted to almost 60 million per year compared to 35 million for TV 2, as it has said. How do you defend that gap?

– I have not been that close to the details in the bidding process. I do not know. We have run an open and comprehensive process and make it easy for everyone to submit their offers.

Go to meetings

– Top football Women are not happy with the process, partly because they have not had the same influence as men’s clubs. How would you defend it?

– There is no doubt that we are working to achieve the best possible conditions for both men and women in Norwegian football. This also applies to the top and width. It’s true as you say: women’s football was not at the forefront of the negotiations, but we have had several meetings with them along the way. They have also contributed to the bidding base. At least they’ve been involved to some degree, says Svendsen.

– Fåne is surprised by the result and wants an evaluation with you at NFF now that this agreement has been signed. Do you want to meet him in that?

– We have had regular meetings in the Superior Football Committee, as it is called, on the women’s side. We have said that we will learn from what happened this fall. We will make a new cooperation agreement where we will make sure that this is regulated by the agreement between the Norwegian Football Association and Toppfotball Kvinner.

– So in the next rights process, Toppfotball Kvinner will get the influence they want?

– We have to negotiate that, yes. I hope that this process has a different structure.

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