Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation is aiming for dominance in world television sport, with plans to create an international rugby “super league”, as well as having just bought rights to top international boxing matches.
The aim is to show the top rugby games in Australia and New Zealand, on Star, the Murdoch satellite system in Asia, on the Vox satellite channel in Germany, in which Mr Murdoch has a large stake, and on Sky in the UK.
This is just the latest in a line of acquisitions made by Murdoch and Sky Sports. A £50 million deal has just been signed with exclusive rights to boxing matches, involving Frank Bruno, Nigel Benn and Mike Tyson, successfully luring them away from ITV.
Trevor East, ITV’s controller of sport, said: “The biggest concern is the relentless shift of events to a minority channel, and it will stay a minority channel for years to come. At some point the Government will have to take a view about the likely damaging effect on participants, supporters and viewers.”
Labour said it was considering tougher rules to prevent Sky from snatching more top events and ITV said it would have to consider partnerships with the BBC, Channel 4 and cable channels to compete more effectively with Mr Murdoch’s deep pockets.
Sky, however, said it was broadening choice for armchair fans.
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