Brussels, 12/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - Commission spokesperson Amelia Torres indicated that the European Commission was "very disappointed" by BSkyB's decision to not grant licences to any of the candidates seeking to cover Premier League matches, which had not met the conditions required. The European Executive said that an agreement had been reached last December with FAPL (Football Association Premier League) and the British company BSkyB. The latter had obtained exclusive rights to show British premier league matches in exchange for it granting sub-licenses to other channels to show eight major premier league matches (EUROPE 18 December p 14).
In a press statement the Commission criticised the decision of the British company but recognised the right of the company to turn down offers in compliance with the agreement. The 2004-06 season is over but the Commission is seeking to change the situation for the following seasons (2007-08, added Torres. The Commission considers that the result of the call for tender, which did not gain the sought after result, "confirmed the need for new arrangements for media rights to Premier League soccer which, while providing football clubs and broadcasters with appropriate returns on their investments and give more benefits to viewers".
The Commission points out that next season no broadcaster will be able to acquire all the media rights but that this change to the system would be done gradually in order to protect the financial situation of clubs in the premier league.