Brussels, 17/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission had reached a provisional agreement with the Football Association Premier League (FAPL) on the package sale of live broadcasting rights for British Premier League matches. It has also signed an agreement with BskyB, which gained exclusive rights this summer, so that BskyB would sell part of such rights to third parties.
In December 2002, the Commission informed FAPL of its objections concerning the joint sale of such rights which did not foster competition and which were not in the interest of supporters. A new call for tenders procedure was therefore set in place in June 2003, proposing a larger number of rights for sale. As a result, the number of matches broadcast live by British TV increased from 106 to 138. Matches not broadcast live are now diffused slightly after the event. Furthermore, video clips received on mobile phones may now be sent at the exact moment when the action takes place during the match and not hours or even days later as hitherto the case. Nonetheless, the Commission was concerned by the fact that BskyB had, in August, gained all rights to broadcasting British Premier League matches for the next three years. After recent negotiations, the Premier League agreed to again amend the tendering procedures for attributing televised rights in order to guarantee live broadcasting rights for Premier League matches by at least two television channels. To achieve this, Premier League will create balanced packages of matches showcasing the Premier League as a whole, and no one broadcaster will be allowed to buy all of the packages. For the next season, the Commission has managed to have BskyB agree to sub-contract to another broadcaster six to eight major Premier League matches (Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea). Commissioner Monti was pleased to say that BskyB had made a commitment in this connection. Another global offer for TV rights was made to other TV channels. This, he added, will be the first opportunity for such channels to broadcast matches live. Such agreements will now be submitted to third parties for observation and will then take effect, if accepted, in two stages. Some changes will be brought in for the beginning of the 2002-2005 season while the new system will be set in place in 2006, during the next call for tenders. British Liberal MEP Chris Huhne was delighted with this provisional agreement which will, on one hand, give football fans the possibility to watch matches live without having to pay a BskyB subscription and, also, by giving small clubs a regular income from selling TV rights. "Thank heavens there is now an end to the uncertainty over the TV deals. Clubs had been freezing player negotiations because they did not know what revenue they could rely on. This deal is good news", Mr Huhne commented.