Brussels could slash football deal

Next it will be bid match by match

The Premier League was today warned that it could be forced to tear up its
£1.024bn television deal with BSkyB and reduce the length of the contract to
just one year, a move that would have serious consequences for top flight
clubs and the pay-TV giant.
European Union competition commissioner Mario Monti today said Brussels
favoured one-year contracts for the type of exclusive rights deal that the
Premier League has negotiated with BSkyB.

"The exclusivity of a contract does not necessarily hurt competition, but
the duration and the scope can create more serious problems and shut down
the market," Mr Monti said in a speech in Rome. "With regard to duration,
the Commission maintains that contracts of one season are generally
acceptable," he added.

His latest remarks hint the commission may be inching towards a compromise
with the Premier League in its long running row over the way the league
sells its rights. Within the next fortnight it is expected to issue a new
"statement of objections" that puts League's deal with Sky in doubt.

Privately BSkyB believes changes will be forced through - but not until the
new contract expires. Mr Monti's comments today came as a surprise to the
Premier League executives who point out that the commission has recently
approved contracts in Germany and for the Uefa Champion's League that run to
three years.

BSkyB paid £1.024bn for an exclusive three-year deal handing it the rights
to 138 live games each season from next year, and further enraged Brussels
competition authorities by then scooping the rights to delayed live
broadcasts and internet footage.

"This is bad for competition on broadcasting markets and it is bad for
consumers," Mr Monti declared in October - but today's comments suggest he
may be prepared to allow Sky to retain exclusivity in return for cutting
down the length of the deal.

However, such a compromise would still hurt Premier League clubs because it
would give them less certainty over the amount of money coming in. BSkyB
will also expect to pay proportionally less for a shorter contract because
it will not be able to spread the price of marketing or the significant
production costs associated with covering live matches.

According to those close to negotiations, there is also a suggestion that
the Premier League could be forced to re-tender the new media package that
was handed to BSkyB last month in return for allowing broadcast rights to
remain with the broadcaster.

The Premier League maintains it has co-operated with the commission all the
way through the bidding process, and is prepared to go to court if necessary
to protect its existing deal. League officials are still negotiating with
the Brussels competition case team and say they remain hopeful of a
"satisfactory outcome".

It has argued live rights were put out to tender but that Sky easily outbid
the competition, and that it was entitled to go with the highest bidder as
long as it was a fair and open process.

Under pressure from Brussels the League increased the number of live
packages on offer from two to four - but BSkyB still scooped the lot by
outbidding its cash-strapped competitors.

Premier League officials and MPs have spent the last two months furiously
lobbying European officials in a bid to diffuse the row.

BBC director general and former Manchester United director Greg Dyke has
also spoken out against the commission's involvement.

"I think the European Commission will break up the Sky monopoly on sport.
And, when they do that, if they [Sky] don't give notice, half the football
clubs will go bust," he said.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcas...103354,00.html

--
SSDD

"Sima" wrote in message
...
Next it will be bid match by match

The Premier League was today warned that it could be forced to tear up its
£1.024bn television deal with BSkyB and reduce the length of the contract to
just one year, a move that would have serious consequences for top flight
clubs and the pay-TV giant.
European Union competition commissioner Mario Monti today said Brussels
favoured one-year contracts for the type of exclusive rights deal that the
Premier League has negotiated with BSkyB.

Yet another example of the European Union ******s interfering in Britain.
Mike.



---
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Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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"Sima" wrote in message
...
Next it will be bid match by match

The Premier League was today warned that it could be forced to tear up its
£1.024bn television deal with BSkyB and reduce the length of the contract to
just one year, a move that would have serious consequences for top flight
clubs and the pay-TV giant.
European Union competition commissioner Mario Monti today said Brussels
favoured one-year contracts for the type of exclusive rights deal that the
Premier League has negotiated with BSkyB.

Once again, those useless ******s i.e. the European Union interfere in a
British domestic issue.
Mike.



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.547 / Virus Database: 340 - Release Date: 02-Dec-2003

"Mike CJ" wrote in message
...
"Sima" wrote in message
...
Next it will be bid match by match

The Premier League was today warned that it could be forced to tear up
its
£1.024bn television deal with BSkyB and reduce the length of the
contract to
just one year, a move that would have serious consequences for top
flight
clubs and the pay-TV giant.
European Union competition commissioner Mario Monti today said Brussels
favoured one-year contracts for the type of exclusive rights deal that
the
Premier League has negotiated with BSkyB.

Once again, those useless ******s i.e. the European Union interfere in a
British domestic issue.

It's just as well, The UK Government ain't lifting a finger to rid us of the
Murdoch monopoly!

The same E.U folk actually said ages ago that the SKY digibox was illegal of
sorts in that it restricted access...Which has now been proved by people who
only want a digibox to watch SHOULD be the FREE terrestrial channels.

It's actually nice to see someone stopping Sky doing as they please.

It's just as well, The UK Government ain't lifting a finger to rid us of
the
Murdoch monopoly!

The same E.U folk actually said ages ago that the SKY digibox was illegal
of
sorts in that it restricted access...Which has now been proved by people
who
only want a digibox to watch SHOULD be the FREE terrestrial channels.

It's actually nice to see someone stopping Sky doing as they please.



If the Sky monopoly is such an affront to you - start your own satellite
broadcast station. Why should it be up to someone else - if you feel that
strongly - do something about it.

Cheers

Nick

On Wed, 10 Dec 2003 09:17:36 GMT, "Sima" wrote:


"This is bad for competition on broadcasting markets and it is bad for
consumers," Mr Monti declared in October - but today's comments suggest he
may be prepared to allow Sky to retain exclusivity in return for cutting
down the length of the deal.


What friggin competition ?


However, such a compromise would still hurt Premier League clubs because it
would give them less certainty over the amount of money coming in. BSkyB
will also expect to pay proportionally less for a shorter contract because
it will not be able to spread the price of marketing or the significant
production costs associated with covering live matches.

According to those close to negotiations, there is also a suggestion that
the Premier League could be forced to re-tender the new media package that
was handed to BSkyB last month in return for allowing broadcast rights to
remain with the broadcaster.

The Premier League maintains it has co-operated with the commission all the
way through the bidding process, and is prepared to go to court if necessary
to protect its existing deal. League officials are still negotiating with
the Brussels competition case team and say they remain hopeful of a
"satisfactory outcome".

It has argued live rights were put out to tender but that Sky easily outbid
the competition, and that it was entitled to go with the highest bidder as
long as it was a fair and open process.

Well excuse me, but isn't that the whole point of corporate democracy
within the UK/EEC ? The highest bidder wins!

The fact is that the BBC do have the money (30million licenses * £100
a throw is a load of cash) but they are more interested in pushing
their poncy BBC4 ****e, trying to save an ailing station such as BBC3
and continually ripping off the consumer with endless repeats.

Again, ITV have the cash, but they've had their fingers burnt with
their failed premiership programme, though to be fair, it's ratings
have picked up over the past three months.


Under pressure from Brussels the League increased the number of live
packages on offer from two to four - but BSkyB still scooped the lot by
outbidding its cash-strapped competitors.

Premier League officials and MPs have spent the last two months furiously
lobbying European officials in a bid to diffuse the row.

BBC director general and former Manchester United director Greg Dyke has
also spoken out against the commission's involvement.

"I think the European Commission will break up the Sky monopoly on sport.
And, when they do that, if they [Sky] don't give notice, half the football
clubs will go bust," he said.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcas...103354,00.html

On Wed, 10 Dec 2003 14:06:43 -0000, "The Wizard"
wrote:


"Mike CJ" wrote in message
...
"Sima" wrote in message
...
Next it will be bid match by match

The Premier League was today warned that it could be forced to tear up
its
£1.024bn television deal with BSkyB and reduce the length of the
contract to
just one year, a move that would have serious consequences for top
flight
clubs and the pay-TV giant.
European Union competition commissioner Mario Monti today said Brussels
favoured one-year contracts for the type of exclusive rights deal that
the
Premier League has negotiated with BSkyB.

Once again, those useless ******s i.e. the European Union interfere in a
British domestic issue.

It's just as well, The UK Government ain't lifting a finger to rid us of the
Murdoch monopoly!

The same E.U folk actually said ages ago that the SKY digibox was illegal of
sorts in that it restricted access...Which has now been proved by people who
only want a digibox to watch SHOULD be the FREE terrestrial channels.

It's actually nice to see someone stopping Sky doing as they please.


Well what d'ya know, I haven't been in this newsgroup for the past 6
or so months and I see Wizard is still here on his Anti-Murdoch
crusade.....I'm seriously beginning to wonder wether he was one of the
printers that got laid off all those years ago by Thatcher/Murdoch

"Chelsea Fan" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 10 Dec 2003 14:06:43 -0000, "The Wizard"
wrote:


"Mike CJ" wrote in message
...
"Sima" wrote in message
...
Next it will be bid match by match

The Premier League was today warned that it could be forced to tear
up
its
£1.024bn television deal with BSkyB and reduce the length of the
contract to
just one year, a move that would have serious consequences for top
flight
clubs and the pay-TV giant.
European Union competition commissioner Mario Monti today said
Brussels
favoured one-year contracts for the type of exclusive rights deal
that
the
Premier League has negotiated with BSkyB.

Once again, those useless ******s i.e. the European Union interfere in
a
British domestic issue.

It's just as well, The UK Government ain't lifting a finger to rid us of
the
Murdoch monopoly!

The same E.U folk actually said ages ago that the SKY digibox was illegal
of
sorts in that it restricted access...Which has now been proved by people
who
only want a digibox to watch SHOULD be the FREE terrestrial channels.

It's actually nice to see someone stopping Sky doing as they please.


Well what d'ya know, I haven't been in this newsgroup for the past 6
or so months and I see Wizard is still here on his Anti-Murdoch
crusade.....I'm seriously beginning to wonder wether he was one of the
printers that got laid off all those years ago by Thatcher/Murdoch

Quite ;-)

I'm more groaning over the footie though,It IS about time someone hit out at
Sky...All that cash they get for their outragious over-bidding comes from
charging for channels that carry advertising,Dogs and red dots.
Call it *getting money for free*

Sky use ye ole excuse of *have to be encrypted because of regions*

Mike CJ wrote:

Once again, those useless ******s i.e. the European Union interfere in a
British domestic issue.

The EU is the only body with any desire to stand up against giant
media corporations, and even they don't do much.
The UK government certainly has no such desire and invariably lets the
giant media corporations do exactly as they wish.

Without the EU Sky would already control all sat broadcasting in the
UK and every UK sat channel would be scrambled and receivable only on
a Sky box.

--
Digibox problem? : A reboot solves 90% of these.
The Sky Digital FAQ: http://tinyurl.com/tez5
How to get UK TV overseas: http://tinyurl.com/6p73
Fed up with logos / red buttons? : http://logofreetv.org/
BBC gone? : http://www.astra2d.co.uk/
----
Only the truth as I see it.
No monies return'd. ;-)

On Thu, 11 Dec 2003 08:21:22 GMT, Jomtien wrote:

Mike CJ wrote:

Once again, those useless ******s i.e. the European Union interfere in a
British domestic issue.

The EU is the only body with any desire to stand up against giant
media corporations, and even they don't do much.
The UK government certainly has no such desire and invariably lets the
giant media corporations do exactly as they wish.

Without the EU Sky would already control all sat broadcasting in the
UK and every UK sat channel would be scrambled and receivable only on
a Sky box.

Totally agree. Unfortunetely giant corps run the media who happily put
firth their own agenda in the the papers, which will either suport or
bring down a government. And then there are the silly people who read
them and believe everything that is printed.

ACC