BSkyB loses exclusive premiership rights

eigrod

From Ireland.com

I'm not sure it will benefit football fans as it may mean that in order for fans to see as much football as SKY currently show, they may have to subscribe to more than one provider [ should each package be sold to subscription channels only ]

Sky loses exclusive rights to premiership soccer
Last updated: 22-03-06, 10:55

The English soccer Premier League won final approval today from the European Commission for binding commitments ending Sky's exclusive rights to live premiership soccer.

"The solution we have reached will benefit football fans while allowing the Premier League to maintain its timetable for the sale of its rights," Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement.

The commitments involved television, mobile and Internet rights, which are to be sold in an open and competitive bidding process and the entire process will be examined by an independent trustee.

The solution ends a long-running dispute dating to 2002 and addresses the Commission's objection to the last round of bidding several years ago, when BSkyB won exclusive rights.

It is paying £1.02 billion (€1.47 billion) over three years for all live Premier League games through 2007.

Under the commitments made, the Premier League will sell each of the packages for live rights to the highest stand-alone bidder, and other bids - such as offering premiums for two or more packages - will be disregarded.

This is important because the Commission says BSkyB offered a premium to win all of the rights last time around. The decision is binding on the Premier League and any violation could result in fines of up to 10 percent of the FA Premier League's worldwide turnover.

L1011

This is in addition to the "nobody can bid for more than 5 of the 6 packages" rule, right?

Mossy Monk

"The solution we have reached will benefit football fans"

not if another pay provider like Setanta picks them up as well as Sky Sports. in that instance expect to pay more. i dont think Sky will reduce the cost of Sky Sports

moved to broadcasting btw

channelsurfer

yep. highest bidder can get 5 packages. If sky is the highest bidder for all 6 individual packages I presume they then go with the next highest tender for the 6th package. No idea how they will decide which of the 6 to give up though if that scenario does arrive.

let the bidding begin... a result is due around mid june just before the world cup starts.

channelsurfer

have they advertised the irish tv rights yet? I wonder will setanta go alone and outbid rte. I have to say the saturday 3pm match (effectively 5th choice) is becoming increasingly unattractive but at least its free still for another year.