At the forefront of the F1 paddock in Zandvoort, a three-story hospitality unit with a rooftop terrace stands tall. This facility doesn’t belong to any of the ten Formula 1 teams, but to the crew of Viaplay Netherlands. For the rights holder of Formula 1 in the Netherlands, the Dutch GP in Zandvoort is undoubtedly the most important week of the year.
Stepping into the Viaplay facility, one can sense a warm atmosphere, but above all, a hive of activity. It’s a bit of a sweet chaos. Between recording TV segments, commentators Nelson Valkenburg and Melroy Heemskerk, presenter Chiel van Koldenhoven, and analysts like Tom Coronel, Giedo van der Garde, Christijan Albers, and Ernest Knoors casually chat over a cup of coffee and sweet treats, which are plentifully laid out on a table in the corner of the ground floor. In between, the gentlemen racers keep a close eye on their social media accounts.
It’s a bit of a squeeze and improvisation, but everything just fits into the facility, which was recently used by another party at the Tomorrowland festival. Behind a curtain, a makeshift dressing room and makeup area have been set up, next to which anchorwoman Amber Brantsen is rehearsing her lines. Meanwhile, the camera operators and technicians are constantly on the move.
Marco Zwaneveld, head of sports at Viaplay Netherlands, coordinates the largest and most hectic operation of the year with dozens of hours of television, including a lot of live TV. Since last Monday, the streaming service has been going all out to serve F1 fans optimally, with the marathon broadcasts on Saturday and Sunday from ten in the morning until the evening being the highlight.
‘It’s Logical That We Go Big in Zandvoort’
“It’s logical that we go big in Zandvoort. I think we have about 75 people in Zandvoort with Viaplay, both for Viaplay International and for Viaplay Netherlands,” says Zwaneveld “And then, of course, we have a large team working hard in Hilversum. All the cameras here are connected via fiber optic to the control room in Hilversum. The same goes for the audio. The programs are actually put together in Hilversum. So, a big thank you to the people behind the scenes in Hilversum, because without them, we wouldn’t get anywhere.”
Viaplay’s Prominent Position in the F1 Paddock
Zwaneveld is extremely pleased with the prominent position of Viaplay’s accommodation at the head of the F1 paddock, which was arranged in close consultation with FOM (Formula One Management). From the rooftop terrace, the cameras have a stunning view of everything happening in the paddock.
“The ground floor is our office, the first floor is the indoor studio, and above that, we have a rooftop terrace where we will normally do the outdoor broadcasts. However, the turbulent weather this time is a complicating factor. We have been lucky in Zandvoort in recent years in this respect, but you know that such a thing can happen. However, if you want to make live TV, gale force eight and rain are not very relaxed. But well, it is what it is, and no one here feels too good to work hard and improvise if necessary.”
Back to Monza in a Few Days
Aside from Viaplay, NOS is also going big this weekend. The public broadcaster has a sublicense, granted by Viaplay. Zwaneveld does not consider NOS as a competitor. “We are on the circuit, they are not. And the people who have a subscription with us will also watch us. Furthermore, it is only good that as many people as possible on TV, through us or through NOS, can enjoy the Dutch GP, because it is and remains a unique event in all respects.”
When the last broadcast ends on Sunday evening at quarter past eight UST, Zwaneveld will proverbially open a bottle, he admits. “But in a few days we will be back in Italy, in Monza and the circus will just continue. I’m not telling you anything new when I say: Formula 1 never stands still.”
