The European Commission said the U.K. Premiership soccer league did not break EU competition rules when it auctioned off licensing deals for its live matches. However, the EU said it would monitor ongoing licensing deals for emerging platforms like the mobile phone. In March the EU forced the league to stop selling its live soccer match broadcasts to one TV channel, BSkyB, which had held the rights for the past 13 years. The recent auction saw BSkyB retain four of the six licensing packages. Irish pay-TV sports network Setanta scooped up the other two. The Commission had threatened to fine the league up to 10 percent of its total turnover if it did not comply with the promises it made in March. The antitrust agreement stands until the 2012-2013 season.
For more on the Premiership's licensing agreements:
- read this article [1] from the AP
Links:
[1] http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8I817R01.htm?sub=apn_news_down&chan=db