British Competitive Watchdog Launches Survey of Television Sports Broadcasting Station

[ad_1]

The UK’s Competitive Markets Authority (CMA) has begun investigating several sports broadcasters, with “reasonable grounds” to believe that BT, ITV, Sky, and IMG Media may have broken the rules of competition. I said there is.

IMG Media owns Premier League Productions and provides viewers around the world with syndicated coverage of England’s elite football clubs.

In a statement on that website The CMA, which monitors the market to prevent monopolies and cartels from artificially maintaining highs and implementing other uncompetitive practices, said: England. “

“At this stage, CMA believes that there is a reasonable reason to suspect one or more violations of competition law,” he added.

Both companies are being investigated under Article 25 of the Competition Law, which covers the operation of cartels.

Premier League
Fernandino of Manchester City will raise a trophy when celebrating with his teammates after winning the Premier League at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England on May 22, 2022. (Hanna McKay / Reuters)

“We have not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of competition law violations to challenge either party,” the CMA said.

Great desire for live games in the English Premier League

The English Premier League, which was won by Manchester City last season, was launched in 1992, and there is growing global demand for live games, especially from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

In May 2021, the Premier League signed a three-year contract worth £ 4.8 billion ($ 5.7 billion) from 2022 to 2025 to screen live British games on Sky Sports, BT Sport and Amazon Prime Video. , BBC Sport won. highlight.

IMG has been granted the right to screen English Premier League games on ships and planes not only in Central and Eastern Europe, but around the world.

In a statement to shareholders, ITV said: ITV and other nominees in this sector. “

“ITV is committed to complying with competition law and is cooperating with CMA inquiries. ITV has not proposed to comment further on this investigation at this stage.”

A Sky spokesman told PA, “We are fully cooperating with CMA.”

BT and IMG Media have not yet issued a statement.

PA Media contributed to this report.

Chris Summers

follow

Chris Summers is a UK-based journalist with a particular interest in crime, police and law, covering stories from a wide range of countries.

[ad_2]