The Football World Cup in the United States is about to start, but NOS is in mourning. They had hoped for many more and longer staff outings. “-40 percent!”
They are being quite dramatic about it at the NOS: fewer people are allowed to attend the Football World Cup on behalf of the broadcaster this year and all employees think that is a shame. They had counted on more treats with taxpayers’ money. But there is simply not enough money, says the new sports boss Xander van der Wulp VARA guide.
60 percent
Xander has to make do with what he has. How big is his team reporting in the United States compared to the previous World Cup in Qatar? “About 60 percent, and we were already doing things from the Netherlands. We really had to scale down considerably, especially because of the extremely high prices in the US.”
He continues: “It is further away and therefore more expensive to get there. We charge $2,200 per employee for a return flight, and $450 per hotel night. Prices have increased enormously in the host cities.”
Commentary
How big is the team there? “The presentation and analysis will take place in the Netherlands. We have limited our delegation to four commentators (Jan Roelfs, Jeroen Elshoff, Jeroen Grueter and Arman Avsaroglu, ed.), five reporters and twenty technical people.”
The commentary for many matches will come from Hilversum. “There are some disadvantages to journalism, because you are dependent on what the organizer’s camera sees. You cannot just look over your screen at the field.”
‘Not nice!’
How was that decision made on the editorial floor? Xander: “This was of course not fun for them. Since 1986, the NOS has provided commentary for all World Cup matches from the stadiums.”
“But this World Cup is of such a large scale, with a total of 104 matches, that this time it could not be otherwise. Of course everyone was disappointed, but there was also understanding.”