Media regulators "have indicated that they are likely to force the Premier League to make more top flight football matches available for live broadcast at a meeting with pay-TV providers," according to Christopher Williams of the London TELEGRAPH.
Ofcom representatives said at the meeting last week that "they will announce a decision on its investigation of the Premier League rights auction by the end of March." Multiple sources close to the meeting said that officials "indicated they were likely to intervene to increase the number of matches that can be broadcast live, following a complaint last year from the cable operator Virgin Media."
Ofcom "gave those present at the impression it does not intend to make all Premier League matches available." In recognition of football traditions, those matches scheduled for 3pm on Saturday "would remain off-limits to broadcasters, it was suggested at the meeting, although they would be fewer to allow more action at other times of the week." Virgin Media "has complained that limits on the supply of live matches force up prices and harms consumers." In contrast, the Spanish and German leagues "make all matches available for live broadcast" (TELEGRAPH, 1/12).
