Telenet introduces ‘Play Sports Open': a new free sports channel for all Telenet TV customers
- New sports channel brings selection of live matches from the Premier League, European League, Eredivisie (the Dutch Premier League), ATP and WTA Tennis, Belgian Hockey and Basketball, Cyclo-cross, Formula 1 and MXGP.
- Also, brand new programs such as an edition of 'The Container Cup' for promising newcomers, the UEFA quiz 'Match of the Truth' and documentaries about RSC Anderlecht and Royal Antwerp football clubs.
- Exclusively available on channel 11 as part of the basic TV package for all Telenet TV customers from 2 February 2021.
- Play Sports Open is targeted at the occasional sports fan, Play Sports remains the home base for sports fans who don't want to miss anything.
27 January 2021 - As of Tuesday 2 February, Telenet is adding a new linear channel to its basic offering. 'Play Sports Open' will offer all Telenet TV customers a selection of matches from different Play Sports competitions, including Premier League, European League, Eredivisie, ATP and WTA Tennis, Belgian Hockey and Basketball, Cyclo-cross, Formula 1 and MXGP. The package also includes own programs and documentaries. A number of light-hearted new sports programs are being developed especially for the new channel, such as an edition of 'The Container Cup' for promising newcomers, a European Championship quiz 'Match of the Truth' and leading documentaries with a look behind the scenes at RSC Anderlecht and Royal Antwerp. The new free channel is an integral part of a strategy aimed at always selecting the best entertainment for customers, whilst simultaneously offering just that little bit more. Play Sports Open kicks off on 2 February at 6 pm with an opening talk show, followed by two Premier League matches. Thereafter all Telenet TV customers will be able to access the new channel via channel 11.
Most extensive entertainment offer for all Telenet customers
The best home-grown programs, new prominent international series and outstanding sports achievements: we want to see them all and be able to talk about them. Since the launch of digital television, Telenet has been looking at how it can offer its customers the best in entertainment, and at the same time provide that little bit extra. Within this context, Telenet frequently offers additional free content to all its television customers, which previously included short additional programs focused on popular series such as De Mol, Love Island and #Likeme. Telenet also bundled 'specials' on Woestijnvis or FC De Kampioenen and Telenet customers were the first to be able to watch 'Bake off Junior' in its entirety. A 24/7 live channel on Big Brother is also currently running. Until now, the focus was mainly on television programs and fiction, but entertainment obviously also includes sport. Telenet now aims to extend its sports offering to a wider audience and is consequently launching its new 'Play Sports Open' linear channel.
Dieter Nieuwdorp, Marketing Representative at Telenet: "Every year we make substantial investments in the acquisition of broadcasting rights, films, series and sports at both a local and international level. Most of these are broadcast via Telenet TV, supplemented with optional packages such as Streamz, Play More and Play Sports. Those who are not particularly interested in such packages will be able to watch many of the films and series on linear television at a later date. With sports, however, given their 'live' nature this is different. And yet, sports are one of the most talked-about and unifying topics. Nowadays, sports fans can access linear channels that broadcast major sports events. Fans who like to closely monitor everything that is going on can take out a subscription for our total package Play Sports. Occasionally we already make a match accessible to all our customers, but we recognized potential in offering a limited but attractive selection of our sports offerings in a more structured manner to all Telenet TV customers. With Play Sports Open we are targeting viewers who like to occasionally watch a Premier League match or a Formula 1 race, but are not necessarily interested in following the entire competition season. With initiatives such as this new channel, we want to emphasize that Telenet is definitely providing the best that entertainment can offer and that once again we are giving that little bit more to all our customers.”
Play Sports Open: sports programs for the occasional sports fan
Play Sports Open will feature a selection of matches from the Premier League, European League, Eredivisie, ATP and WTA Tennis, Belgian Hockey and Basketball, Cyclo-cross, Formula 1 and MXGP. Live sports will be supplemented with own sports programs and documentaries. The media company Woestijnvis, for example, is working on a promising newcomers edition of 'The Container Cup', a European Championship quiz entitled 'Match of the Truth' and documentaries about the ins and outs at RSC Anderlecht and Royal Antwerp.
The new linear channel will be launched on 2 February 2021 on channel 11 (the current Telenet info channel) as part of the basic digital television package and on YUGO at Telenet. Play Sports Open kicks off on 2 February at 6 pm with an opening talk show, followed by Studio Live with Premier League matches Wolverhampton - Arsenal and Man United - Southampton.
The channel is available to all Telenet TV customers. The Belgian football league, like the Italian, Spanish and German leagues, remains exclusively available to Play Sports subscribers and will not be shown on the open channel.
Stefaan Kestens, who is responsible for Play Sports and Play Sports Open commented as follows: "With this channel we aim to make our sports offering partly accessible to a wider audience. Geniality is too good to miss and, as we stated in our last Play Sports campaign, we want to live up to this philosophy for all our television customers. Because we are targeting the 'occasional sports fan', and his/her family, we want to offer programs that will appeal to them, i.e. not only extensive match analyses, but also light-hearted and fun programs, such as The Container Cup or a sports quiz. We hope to be able to offer approximately 8 to 10 programs a year.”
Play Sports: for fans of Belgian football and those who don’t want to miss their favorite competitions.
Out-and-out sports fans who want to keep up with every single match and entire competitions can of course still turn to Play Sports. With 6 Play Sports and 6 Eleven channels, extensive analyses and the full range of all matches from the Premier League, European League, Eredivisie, ATP and WTA Tennis, Belgian Hockey and Basketball, Cyclo-cross, Formula 1 and MXGP - as well as the Jupiler Pro League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, FA Cup, NBA, NFL and golf - this package remains the home base for sports fans who don't want to miss anything.
New sports programs: an overview
The Container Cup/promising newcomers
The second season of The Container Cup, a leading sports competition in which athletes from diverse disciplines compete against one another, is due to start soon. However, any self-respecting competition will also want to stage a promising newcomers’ series. From 5/4 viewers will be able to watch 'The Container Cup for Promising Newcomers', giving them the opportunity to meet a talented young athlete every day. Find out now who our top athletes of the future will be!
Match of the Truth
Match of the Truth is a quiz, in the run-up to the European Championship, in which team captains Erik Van Looy and Pedro Elias cheerfully push potential European Championship opponents of our Red Devils off their pedestal.
After all, would you still fear the Italian team knowing that one of their strikers is called Kevin Lasagna? Indeed, you would not. Gilles Decoster presents this splendid preparation for the European Championship for both experts and enthusiasts. Erik and Pedro surround themselves with famous Red Devils, well known fans and every now and then an honorary citizen of Ninove.
Fool of the Devils
Together with several ex-Red Devils, Eric Goens relives the most memorable tournaments our country participated in, in which fascinating anecdotes alternate with nostalgia and in-depth insights into past events. Paying homage to the Devils of the past, who for decades laid the foundations for the current ‘golden’ generation.
Canteen
Eric Goens' well-known formula will also get a sequel. During the second season of Canteen, people from both football and other sports will be put in the spotlight. In his inimitable style, Eric Goens will grill his 'guests with a story' and try to get them to reveal interesting - both sporting and human – facts against a background set in his quintessential Flemish Canteen.
Documentary RSC Anderlecht
A unique look behind the scenes at the new RSC Anderlecht - a club under development, with high expectations. Viewers will follow the intense quest for new successes by coach Vincent Kompany, a new generation of talented Belgians, a demanding board and the many supporters with a purple-white heart.
Documentary Royal Antwerp FC
This documentary will follow the developments at the oldest football club in the country. The sporting achievements of Frank Vercauteren's team are the red-white theme of this documentary, with all the hoped-for successes and potential disappointments, as well as the major and minor narratives behind and around the club with registration number 1.