Talksport Tackles BBC Over England World Cup Rights

talkSPORT is to take both legal and programming action after accusing the BBC of abusing its dominant market position by buying both radio and TV rights to England’s next football international.

Kelvin MacKenzie, chief executive of The Wireless Group, which owns Talksport, said: “We have always warned the BBC that if we are cut out of the bidding we will take appropriate action to serve our listeners.”

The BBC obtained the TV and Radio rights to the Euro 2000 tournament through the European Broadcasting Union in as part of a “bundled” deal also obtained the radio rights, forcing Talksport to resort to creating coverage using commentators stationed in front of TV screens, away from the actual stadium (see TalkSport Is “Misleading Listeners”, Says BBC). It is almost certain that Talksport will now cover the Greece-England game in the same way.

Talksport lawyers are currently drafting a submission to the office of Fair Trading, claiming anti-competitive behaviour. The BBC bought the TV rights to broadcast the Greece-England World Cup qualifier in June, again as part of a bundled deal. Talksport was denied the right to bid following the BBC’s decision to make it a condition that both TV and radio rights be bought simultaneously.

Talk Sport: 020 7959 7800 www.talksport.co.uk

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