Champions' League TV Rights Contract Comes Into Question

The $461M per year market for TV rights to the European Champions' League "is set to be shaken up after" the European Commission said that "the system was anti-competitive," according to Guerrara & Garrahan of the FINANCIAL TIMES. The Commission has told UEFA that the "system — whereby rights are sold exclusively to one broadcaster in each country for up to four years — reduces competition among broadcasters, limits consumers' choice and could increase prices for armchair fans." Guerrara & Garrahan write the Commission's "decision to object makes it highly unlikely that system will survive." Changes in the TV rights "could include allowing more than one broadcaster in each country to buy the rights, breaking up the rights in different packages or reducing the length of contracts." UEFA "has three months to reply to the Commission's objections and propose changes to the system" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 7/23). Last year's TV rights contract was worth $423M (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 7/23).