Euro Regulator Ends Sky Premier League Exclusivity Rights

The European Commission has announced a new deal over the broadcast rights of the football Premier League, ending Sky’s exclusivity over the sporting event and opening up a more even system of bidding over football rights.

Commenting on the new decision, Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the Premier League said: “This has been a long a complicated negotiation. We are grateful to the Commissioner and her officials for the efforts they have made to reach a workable negotiation.”

He added: “We are pleased that this agreement addresses the Commission’s competition concerns, and paves the way for certainty surrounding how we sell our rights next time around.”

The new commitments have been agreed with the Competition Commissioner, Neelie Kroes, who is forwarding them for formal approval from the College of Commissioners.

The investigation into the broadcast rights of the Premier League began in September following confirmation that the EC it is opening a formal antitrust inquiry into current practices, which have failed to ensure rights are distributed to more than one broadcaster (see Euro Regulator To Investigate Premier League Rights).

The latest issue argued over between the Commission and League followed an agreement by the FA in 2003 to open up its exclusive coverage deal with BSkyB, enabling other broadcasters to bid for broadcast rights. However, when none of the bids reached the reserved price BSkyB was able to reject all offers and retain the broadcast rights.

FA Premier League: www.premierleague.com