Premier League TV Rights
Discussion
Very interesting case this one. I am not sure where I stand.
There do seem to be come conflicts with the current EU law on copyright and also the general idea of freedom of trade within the UK.
To summarise. The Premier League sell their TV rights to each country in the EU. In the UK it is SKY mainly. This woman owns a pub and bought in a European decoder from Greece and was showing matches on the cheap. She was eventually done for breaching copyright legislation.
If she wins her case it could have a huge impact for how rights are then sold in the future, it could even lead to less money to the PL (which could be seen as a good or bad thing)
I think though, with freedom of trade issue, the PL do initally open offers to anyone who wants the right, country by country. The question is should the freedom on trade thing apply further down the chain?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11452434
There do seem to be come conflicts with the current EU law on copyright and also the general idea of freedom of trade within the UK.
To summarise. The Premier League sell their TV rights to each country in the EU. In the UK it is SKY mainly. This woman owns a pub and bought in a European decoder from Greece and was showing matches on the cheap. She was eventually done for breaching copyright legislation.
If she wins her case it could have a huge impact for how rights are then sold in the future, it could even lead to less money to the PL (which could be seen as a good or bad thing)
I think though, with freedom of trade issue, the PL do initally open offers to anyone who wants the right, country by country. The question is should the freedom on trade thing apply further down the chain?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11452434
Edited by Mojooo on Sunday 3rd October 15:21
What's the legal situation with regards using an imported decoder to the UK? Is it illegal, or only a copyright issue if you chose to watch something specific? I can see both sides of the argument, but I think I lean more towards her point of view, as it seems like Sky are restricting freedom of choice. Will be interesting to see what transpires.
The most annoying aspect of Premier League Football rights is that you pay Sky £40 a month to watch the football, then the EU kick up a fuss and Sky aren't allowed to buy all the TV rights. This is supposed to be good for consumers as competition will bring prices down. But all it's done is mean that some of the games I would have been able to watch are now on ESPN, which I need to pay an extra £10 a month to see. So for the same level of service the price is now £50. Thanks.
I have sympathy for her and was pleased she has won.
Sky do charge a lot of money for a pub license, I believe it is in excess of £5K per year, there are quite a few places that would like to show the odd England Rugby game or similar that can't due to this fee. If she can receive stuff being beam in from out of space then good luck to her.
Sky do charge a lot of money for a pub license, I believe it is in excess of £5K per year, there are quite a few places that would like to show the odd England Rugby game or similar that can't due to this fee. If she can receive stuff being beam in from out of space then good luck to her.
It's not quite decided yet. The release today was just the opinion of the Advocate General. While this is normally followed by the Court, apparently the AG in question is known as being a bit of a loose cannon and there have been occasions in the past where her opinion has not been followed.
As mentioned above, the outcome of this will not be that it gets cheaper here, but that it just gets more expensive everywhere else (at least from 2013, when the contracts come up again).
As mentioned above, the outcome of this will not be that it gets cheaper here, but that it just gets more expensive everywhere else (at least from 2013, when the contracts come up again).
Mojooo said:
Funny thing is that it appears to fly in the face of free market if the PL cannot sell its rights to who it wants
At the end of the days its fair enough if they want to distribute a product country by country
(and I am normally a SKY hater!)
Isn't the main point of the EU that it's supposed to be one market, therefore you can't get away with treating in on a country by country basis.At the end of the days its fair enough if they want to distribute a product country by country
(and I am normally a SKY hater!)
Fittster said:
Mojooo said:
Funny thing is that it appears to fly in the face of free market if the PL cannot sell its rights to who it wants
At the end of the days its fair enough if they want to distribute a product country by country
(and I am normally a SKY hater!)
Isn't the main point of the EU that it's supposed to be one market, therefore you can't get away with treating in on a country by country basis.At the end of the days its fair enough if they want to distribute a product country by country
(and I am normally a SKY hater!)
There is a conflict there for sure though.
Mojooo said:
Fittster said:
Mojooo said:
Funny thing is that it appears to fly in the face of free market if the PL cannot sell its rights to who it wants
At the end of the days its fair enough if they want to distribute a product country by country
(and I am normally a SKY hater!)
Isn't the main point of the EU that it's supposed to be one market, therefore you can't get away with treating in on a country by country basis.At the end of the days its fair enough if they want to distribute a product country by country
(and I am normally a SKY hater!)
There is a conflict there for sure though.[/b]
SKY is a business = Answer to shareholders = Make money.
We either live in a single market or we don't.
If this woman, or anyone else come to that, wishes to buy their TV subscription from Greece or anywhere else within the EU then good for them.
I've got Sky Sports HD and now the Ashes are over I think I'll call them and jack it in. Or should I wait until the Cricket world cup first...
If this woman, or anyone else come to that, wishes to buy their TV subscription from Greece or anywhere else within the EU then good for them.
I've got Sky Sports HD and now the Ashes are over I think I'll call them and jack it in. Or should I wait until the Cricket world cup first...
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff