Premier League TV football choice 'upheld' by EU advice

[dee]

Not strictly football but seemed the best place

Broadcasters cannot stop customers using cheaper foreign satellite TV equipment to watch Premier League football, an EU legal adviser has said. A non-binding opinion from advocate Juliane Kokott of the European Court of Justice said a block breached EU laws. Portsmouth pub landlady Karen Murphy, fined for using Greek decoders, had argued the EU single market should let her use any European provider.

Sky and ESPN have the broadcast rights to Premier League football in the UK. The satellite broadcaster has pumped billions into top flight English football since the league was founded in 1992, with the money given to clubs allowing them to buy some of the top names in the world.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) will make a ruling on the matter later this year.

'Damage interests'
It also says it "would damage the interests of broadcasters and viewers of Premier League football across the EU"

TV money has helped bring top foreign names into English football. A spokesman added that if the advocate general's guidance was taken it would stop rights holders from marketing their properties in a way which meets the territorial and cultural demands of broadcasters. They said they hoped the ECJ would uphold current European law, which the league said was "framed to help promote, celebrate and develop the cultural differences within the EU".

The Premier League also said that if European Commission wanted to create a pan-European licensing model for sports, film and music then it must go through the proper consultative and legislative processes, not use the courts.

'Contrary to EU law'
The case at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has been about whether a rights holder such as the Premier League can license its content on a country-by-country basis. Such a set-up has allowed the league to fully maximise the value of its rights.

Although Advocate General Kokott's opinion is not binding, judges usually follow the guidance from the advocate. If they do, selling sport, movies, or any other content, on an exclusive territory-by-territory basis within the EU may no longer be possible.

"The exclusivity agreement relating to transmission of football matches are contrary to European Union law," she said in her opinion. "(The) exclusivity rights in question have the effect of partitioning the internal market into quite separate national markets, something which constitutes a serious impairment of the freedom to provide services."

Fined
Ms Murphy had been convicted for using the cheaper Greek satellite receiver to show top flight football in her pub.She used the Nova firm to show matches in the Red, White and Blue pub in Portsmouth as it was less expensive than Sky.

Enforcers working on behalf of Football Association Premier League Limited (FAPL) - the private company which represents the broadcasting interests of the 20 English Premier League clubs - brought the prosecution saying only Sky TV had exclusive rights to show its games in the UK. She had to pay nearly £8,000 in fines and costs.

Industry experts say satellite companies face having to reform - leading possibly to the creation of just a handful of pan-European broadcasters. It was pressure from Brussels which forced the Premier League to offer its live matches to more then one broadcaster, rather then just renew the exclusive deals it traditionally had with Sky.

Packages were consequently taken up by Setanta, and when they went bust, by ESPN.

 

[themn]

This has got FFF written all over it.

 

[Asbo]

I saw the woman claim it costs 22k to install and broadcast Sky in her pub from Sky, but 1000 quid to install and broadcast from the Greek firm she is using now.

 

[FoxForceFive]

[quote author=themn link=topic=44022.msg1277294#msg1277294 date=1296743361]
This has got FFF written all over it.
[/quote]

Hahaha.

Everyone knew this would go against them anyway, it's blindingly obvious if you have a legitimate card & pay for it then it doesnt matter what country the signal originated in. Nova is a slightly different matter though,in that they dont legitimately allow their signal to be used abroad, even putting an on screen warning on telling you it's only for broadcast in Greece.

Sky are fucking themselves over, charging pubs thousands a year is bound to drive them to alternatives.

 

[Woland]

I've had the foreign crap for years and this is great news.

 

[themn]

I fucking love you, Jon Fox !

 

[IanTheRed]

[quote author=themn link=topic=44022.msg1277332#msg1277332 date=1296746092]
I fucking love you, Jon Fox !
[/quote]

That sounds like a hilarious situation based comedy from America, based on a dashing yet unlucky in love PI.

Apart from the 'fucking' bit, obv.

 

[Woland]

What I meant to say is that in my most erotic dreams I pluck Murdoch's eye out of his socket with my dick and then fuck his skull until I wake up showered in my own jizz.

This news is probably the nearest I'll get to realising my fantasy.

 

[IanTheRed]

[quote author=Krump link=topic=44022.msg1277349#msg1277349 date=1296747054]
What I meant to say is that in my most erotic dreams I pluck Murdoch's eye out of his socket with my dick and then fuck his skull until I wake up showered in my own jizz.

This news is probably the nearest I'll get to realising my fantasy.
[/quote]

'Most' erotic? Have you been skullfucking Anne Widdecombe in your dreams previously?

 

[Woland]

Maybe she'd have done it in the past but I can't get off now unless I'm thinking about sexually molesting the corpse of a member of the new world order. Last year it was getting Colin Powell to jack me off while shoving Paul Wolfowitz feet first into a woodchipper, right now it's skull fucking Murdoch while Jeb Bush licks my barse.

You can't help what does it for you.

 

[Judge Jules]

Powell? He's window-dressing, surely. Or maybe you just fancy him. 😉

 

[Woland]

Yeah, while I'd argue it's about power and not looks, there is a reason he got in the fantasy ahead of Kissinger.