| Author (Person) | Banks, Martin |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.9, No.27, 17.7.03, p2 |
| Publication Date | 17/07/2003 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date:17/07/03 By Martin Banks THE UK soccer Premier League faces a possible investigation by the European Commission if it decides to accept a €1.4-billion bid for all three available packages of live football rights from satellite TV operator BSkyB. BSkyB has made its offer conditional on winning all three packages of live rights. But industry sources say that if it fails to secure just one of them it will withdraw its offer and pay less for the individual packages that it does manage to secure. This arrangement is likely to offend the Commission, which is concerned about the lack of consumer choice in the airing of top English football games. The new packages will run for three years from the start of the 2004-2005 season next August. Live exclusive football is a major draw to Sky's 6.6 million subscribers and the TV channel privately admits that even if a few Premiership live matches per year went to terrestrial broadcasters this would reduce its must-have appeal for football fans. In France, there was a court battle with rival broadcasters after Canal Plus outbid others with an offer contingent on exclusive rights to French football. In the UK, Sky's competitors could take a complaint to the European Commission. |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry, Culture, Education and Research |
| Countries / Regions | United Kingdom |
