WRITTEN QUESTION E-3474/01 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The application of Competition Policy with regard to collective sale of broadcasting rights to football matches.
Date: 2002-01-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: audiovisual programme, competition policy, professional sport, sale, sporting event

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/69

The work pursued under the auspices of the Commission to harmonise safety practices has made a very
significant contribution, not only to the quality of the safety of the Union’s nuclear power plants, but also
to the emergence of a European outlook approved by the Member States.

Finally, it must be pointed out that, in the conclusions of the Laeken Summit, the European Council
undertook to maintain a high level of nuclear safety in the Union. In particular, it stressed the need to
monitor the security and the safety of nuclear power plants. The Commission intends to participate
actively in this process inside the Union, in the same way that it participates in the evaluation of the safety
of nuclear power plants in the candidate countries.

(2002/C 172 E/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3474/01

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: The application of Competition Policy with regard to collective sale of broadcasting rights to

football matches

Does the Commission believe that the collective sale of broadcasting rights to football matches or any
other sport is in principle or potentially anti-competitive, and what conclusions has it reached following its
decision to launch a preliminary investigation into last year’s sale of £1,65 billion sale of the television
rights to England’s top-division football matches?

Does the Commission believe that FIFA’s collective sale of broadcasting rights to the football World Cup
Competition in Japan and Korea in 2002 to the Kirch Media Group is consistent with European Union
Competition Policy?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(18 February 2002)

Joint selling of media rights by sports associations may restrict competition in the sense of Article 81 of
the EC Treaty when trade between Member State is appreciably affected. In analysing the restrictive effect
of joint selling of media rights, the Commission will examine whether the conditions for an exemption are
possible. The Commission, which is very conscious about the potential benefits of economic solidarity in
sport, wishes to ensure that the very important media rights to football tournaments are not sold in a way
that harms competition on media markets and which, as a consequence, harms viewers. In this regard,
Premier League matches are of particular importance on the United Kingdom (UK) media markets: if there
are any anti-competitive aspects to the way in which the media rights are sold, their effects would be
especially harmful. The Commission is proceeding with an in-depth factual examination of the media
arrangements of the Football Associations Premier League (FAPL) and has been in contact with the FAPL
and third parties to this end.

The FAPL has not yet notified its media arrangements to the Commission. This does not prevent the
Commission from examining the case on its own initiative and such an examination is underway. The
duration is likely to depend on the degree of co-operation the Commission receives and the extent of third
party interest and comment.

The Commission is mindful that if action needs to be taken, it should be taken as quickly as possible.

The Commission has discussed the sale of the TV broadcasting rights of the World Cup Competition in
Japan and Korea in 2002 to the Kirch Media Group with the International Federation of Football
Association (FIFA).

The transaction has not been notified to the Commission and no complaints have been received.