Swiss Competition Commission Proposes $148M Fine For Swisscom

The Swiss Competition Commission (Weko) said that Swisscom "is misusing its dominant position by keeping coverage of the national football and ice hockey games exclusive to its own customers," according to Robert Briel of BROADBAND TV NEWS. In April '13, the commission "opened an investigation in broadcasts of live sports on pay-TV services because there was evidence of a dominant position of Swisscom and Cinetrade, who owns the sports broadcast rights." Swisscom "offers the Teleclub Sport premium channels exclusively" on its own network without making it available to others, such as UPC Cablecom. Weko said that "the telco indeed is misusing its dominant position." The commission ruled that Swisscom "must offer all TV platforms in Switzerland -- if technically possible -- an equivalent on non-discriminatory terms." It also proposes to slap a CHF143M ($148M) fine on the operator, "as a penalty for acting illegally" (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 7/27).