Media
A deal reached today between the Premier League and the European Commission will end Sky's monopoly on live coverage of Premiership football matches.
The League has agreed to sell live coverage rights in six packages with no single bidder allowed to buy all six.
On August 8, 2003, the Premier League awarded all four current live rights packages to Sky in a three year deal. The European Commission, despite making clear its displeasure at the arrangement, accepted that deal but shortly thereafter insisted that changes would have to be made for the 2006 rights round. On December 17, 2003, the League agreed to structure its rights tendering process such that at least two broadcasters will screen live Premiership matches. It has taken the League and the EC until today to reach the six package agreement.
In a statement, the European Commission outlined how the procedure will work.
"Live TV rights will be sold in six balanced packages with no one bidder being allowed to buy all six packages. Packages will be sold to the highest standalone bidder for each package, and bids other than simple standalone bids will be disregarded. The auction will be monitored by a trustee, selected by the commission, who will report to the commission as to whether the commitments entered into by the Football Association Premier League have been followed."
Richard Scudamore, the Premier League's chief executive, called the negotiations "long and often complicated" but described the arrangement as "a workable compromise."
The League has agreed to sell live coverage rights in six packages with no single bidder allowed to buy all six.
On August 8, 2003, the Premier League awarded all four current live rights packages to Sky in a three year deal. The European Commission, despite making clear its displeasure at the arrangement, accepted that deal but shortly thereafter insisted that changes would have to be made for the 2006 rights round. On December 17, 2003, the League agreed to structure its rights tendering process such that at least two broadcasters will screen live Premiership matches. It has taken the League and the EC until today to reach the six package agreement.
In a statement, the European Commission outlined how the procedure will work.
"Live TV rights will be sold in six balanced packages with no one bidder being allowed to buy all six packages. Packages will be sold to the highest standalone bidder for each package, and bids other than simple standalone bids will be disregarded. The auction will be monitored by a trustee, selected by the commission, who will report to the commission as to whether the commitments entered into by the Football Association Premier League have been followed."
Richard Scudamore, the Premier League's chief executive, called the negotiations "long and often complicated" but described the arrangement as "a workable compromise."
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