EU: New soccer row brewing

Immediately following the conclusion of 1998’s soccer World Cup, public service broadcasters across the EU appealed to FIFA (football’s governing body), national governments and European institutions, for all matches of the next World Cup to be accessible to the European public as a whole on non-pay channels. After record viewing figures for the 1998 event, the European Radio-Television Union – most of whose members are public service broadcasters – are concerned about public access to the 2002 World Cup, which will take place in Korea and Japan. European rights for the 2002 Cup have been sold to Kirch, a private group, which intends to sell them on in packages. The EU – which is concerned that the European public should be able to continue to follow major sports events in direct coverage on free access channels – amended its legislation in June 1997 (the revised broadcasting directive), offering MS the possibility of taking appropriate measures. However, currently only the UK has established a list of major events that must be shown on channels accessible to all viewers; other MS are still discussing and considering the matter.