Virgin Media CEO Tom Mockridge has called on the Premier League to consider introducing U.S.-style "regional blackouts to enable it to show all 380 matches live" on TV, according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN. The pay-TV company has "also made it plain it does not expect the media regulator Ofcom to rip up the Premier League’s existing deals," expected to bring in more than £8.5B ($12.7B), but that any changes "should apply to the next contract," starting in the '19-20 season. Virgin has filed a complaint with the regulator arguing that by "only making 41% of all matches available to broadcasters, the Premier League is keeping prices artificially high" and restricting choice to consumers. In other countries such as Germany, and with other leagues such as the NBA and the NFL, "it is common for fans to be able to watch all games or purchase a pass that allows them to follow their own team." Mockridge said that the move was necessary to "curb continuing inflation in the cost of live rights that was hurting consumers." He said that 77% of Virgin customers, around a third of whom subscribe to BT Sport and Sky Sports, thought that sports channels were now "too expensive." Arguing the provisions had created a "nanny state," Mockridge said, "Consumers are entitled to make their own choices rather than have other people make them for them" (GUARDIAN, 12/2). The PA's Martyn Ziegler reported Mockridge said, "Would it not be better if the lower leagues had a greater share of the money rather than the benefit of this blackout? You could address the blackout in a geographic way -- that's the system they use in the USA and it works very well." Mockridge also claims the Premier League "could enjoy yet another huge rise in income from TV rights in the next round of negotiations" for the '19-22 rights comparable to the 80% rise seen for the £5.1B domestic rights for '16-19 (PA, 12/2). In London, Ben Rumsby reported there has been a blackout on Saturday 3pm kickoffs being shown live since the '60s "amid fears broadcasting top-flight games at that time would adversely impact on attendances, particularly in lower leagues." Mockridge suggested amending that to a "regional blackout," which would prevent Saturday 3pm ManU games from being shown in the Greater Manchester area and Arsenal fixtures from being shown in London. Mockridge: "We have the technology" (TELEGRAPH, 12/2).
