Premiership Moves Goal Posts On Media Rights Packages
The chances of live Premiership football returning to the BBC or ITV increased yesterday after the Premier League once again adapted in its media rights packages to encourage more competitive bids from terrestrial broadcasters.
Earlier this month the rights to broadcast matches for the 2004/5 to the 2006/7 season were split into three after the European Commission claimed the current practice of selling the rights in bulk was anti-competitive (see TV Giants Battle For Live Premiership Football Rights).
Broadcasters were invited to bid for these so-called gold, silver and bronze packages of 138 live matches. However, in a new twist, the Premier League has now split the bronze package of 62 Saturday afternoon games in two and has asked broadcasters to make revised offers for the rights.
The decision will increase the chances of terrestrial broadcasters such as BBC and ITV being able to afford one of the packages and speculation suggests the move follows increased pressure from the EC to prevent BSkyB from retaining the exclusive live rights to English Premiership matches (see EC Could Obstruct New Sky Football Deal).
A spokesman for the Premier League said: “The adjustments, as in previous years, reflect the needs and aspirations of the commercial market following the encouraging response to the initial tender document. The enhanced packages will increase competition and create even greater commercial opportunities for the broadcasters and media partners.”
The bronze package of games, which kick-off either at 1.15pm and 5.15pm on Saturdays, are widely considered to be the most attractive to terrestrial broadcasters, as they would not disrupt the peaktime schedules and are far cheaper than the gold and sliver packages.
The latest changes to the rights package appear to promote competition and favour bids from terrestrial broadcasters. However, reports suggest that BSkyB had made a £1 billion bid for the bulk of rights, which is thought to include separate offers for individual packages, along with a substantial bid for the entire bundle, on the condition that it gets them exclusively (see EC Could Obstruct New Sky Football Deal).
Merrill Lynch believes that the BBC has between £75 million and £100 million to bid for the silver or bronze packages and it is thought that Channel 4 and Five are only interested in highlights offerings. The ITV companies are under pressure to cut costs and are unlikely to sanction major investment in live sport (see BSkyB Bids To Retain Premiership Prize).
Meanwhile, the EC has also approved UEFA’s plans to joint sell the media rights to Championship League games. Competition commissioner, Mario Monti, said: “The Commission’s action will provide a broader and more varied offer of football on television. It will allow clubs to develop the rights for their own fan base and will give an impulse for the emerging new media markets.”
Premier League: 020 7298 160 www.premierleague.com
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