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PREMIER LEAGUE TV RIGHTS SALE UNDER INVESTIGATION

Published by Gbaf News

Posted on November 19, 2014

1 min read
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Ofcom to Investigate Premier League TV Rights

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s broadcasting watchdog will investigate whether more Premier League matches should be made available for domestic television audiences.

Most Premier League Matches Not Shown Live

The majority of games are at 3 p.m. on Saturdays but are only available live to international rights holders.

Virgin Media's Complaint Triggers Probe

Ofcom announced Tuesday it will investigate a complaint from Virgin Media, which is owned by U.S. cable TV operator Liberty Global.

Virgin Media says that, with only 41 percent of matches shown live in Britain, customers end up paying more for their subscriptions because there is less competition.

Current Broadcasters and Rights Details

The domestic rights are currently held by Sky, whose largest shareholder is Rupert Murdoch, and BT Sport. Their deals end after the 2015-16 season.

Key Takeaways

  • Ofcom launched an investigation into whether Premier League TV rights sales limit competition in the UK.
  • Virgin Media filed a complaint alleging only 41% of matches are shown live domestically, inflating prices.
  • Ofcom's probe began in November 2014 and was closed in August 2016 after the Premier League increased live match availability.
  • The investigation concluded the league’s rights sales comply with competition law following consumer research and changes in broadcast terms.

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Who filed the complaint that triggered the investigation?
Virgin Media, owned by Liberty Global, lodged the complaint.
What was Virgin Media’s main concern?
That only 41% of Premier League matches were shown live in the UK, reducing competition and increasing consumer prices.
When did Ofcom open and close the investigation?
Ofcom opened the probe in November 2014 and closed it in August 2016.
Why did Ofcom close the investigation?
Because the Premier League increased the number of matches available to at least 190 per season, consumer research was conducted, and further investigation was deemed lower priority.
Did the Premier League make structural changes to its rights sales?
Yes, it committed to a “no single buyer” rule and reserved a minimum number of matches for a second rights holder, including weekend games.

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