 |
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
EU, UEFA agree on Champions Cup TV Posted: Monday June 03, 2002 2:25 PMBRUSSELS (Reuters) -- The European Commission and European soccer's governing body, UEFA, said on Monday they have agreed a new antitrust plan making more Champions League games available to the television viewing public. The new rules, to take effect in the 2003-2004 season if they are approved after public comment, are aimed at increasing the number of broadcasters who have access to Champions League games, including small and regional television outlets, the Commission said. The Commission, the European Union's competition watchdog, said in July that UEFA's rules were anti-competitive because the soccer body sold rights to only one broadcaster in each country. In many states, not all the games are broadcast, depriving the public of the right to see them, the Commission said. The Commission had authority because UEFA had sought a six-year exemption from ordinary competition rules in 1999. "The existing rules where one broadcaster gets it all for a long period of time could not be exempted because they distorted competition between broadcasters," European Union Competition Commissioner Mario Monti said. But Monti said he was pleased with the agreed approach, as was UEFA vice president Per Ravn Omdal. "We are delighted with this result," he said, adding that UEFA will begin this summer to negotiate for rights between 2003 and 2006. The new approach breaks up the sales into 14 separate categories, giving both UEFA and local soccer clubs some sales rights. Local teams should be able to acquire rights for sale starting some time in August, one of the attorneys involved said. The Champions League tournament is one of the most important sports events in Europe, the Commission said, noting that 72 clubs participate from European Union and non-EU countries. Most of the league's revenues come from the sale of television rights. Under the new plan, UEFA must divide the rights for live broadcasts of top games between two different broadcasters. Other broadcasters also will get some rights for live broadcasts of second-tier games. The new proposal also provides for the sale of wireless, Internet and radio rights. "This solution fosters a broader and a more varied offer of football in the European Union," Monti said. The proposal will be made public, and the public will have a chance to comment on it before it takes effect.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
