Sky heading for footy defeat

Sky looks set to lose its monopoly on Premier League football as the European Commission (EC) considers new plans for the division of TV rights.

The Premier League submitted its proposals to EC competitions commissioner Neelie Kroes on Monday.

There is speculation it is offering six packages of 23 matches for auction with no single broadcaster able to buy more than five.

However, that could mean Sky retains around 80% of top-flight football matches.

In December 2003 Kroes called for the Premier League to allow other broadcasters a 'viable and meaningful' share in the rights when they come up for renewal in 2007. Sky has held the rights since 1992 and pays an estimated £341m a year for them.

If the EC accepts the Premier League's proposals for the sale of rights from 2007 to 2010 then auctioning could begin in March and be concluded by August.

Sky, ITV, NTL, Setanta, BBC and Five are all said to be interested.

Douglas Stoneley-Hulme, of the Antelope Inn in Kearsley, near Bolton, Lancashire, said licensees would have 'mixed feelings' about Sky losing some of the games.

'Although we have a go at Sky because of the charges, if games were on terrestrial television we would lose out,' he said.

'You get more people in when matches are on Sky because some don't have it at home.'

However, Stoneley-Hulme added if NTL won some games, and achieved a commercial licence to broadcast in pubs, there may be a 'genuine alternative' to Sky because the cable provider screens Sky Sports.