Ofcom keen for football rights talks
Media watchdog Ofcom is to open talks with the FA Premier League over the distribution of TV rights as part of its investigation into the pay-TV market.
Ofcom said it wants to sit down with the Premier League prior to the next auction of broadcast rights in 2012.
It said: "We therefore intend to review with the Premier League how it intends to ensure that this auction complies with competition law. That will involve exploring with the Premier League whether it is willing to provide further commitments. We expect that review to cover the supply of Premier League football to commercial as well as residential customers."
Sky is barred from holding all the TV rights for Premier League games but questions have been raised over the fairness of distribution as commercial customers were only able to access games bought by Setanta via a Sky subscription.
Although Setanta has now gone into administration, ESPN has picked up the rights and the channel will again only be available to pubs through Sky's Ultimate package.
Ofcom also said Sky should be forced to offer its premium content, including Premier League football, to its rivals on other platforms at regulated wholesale prices — although this refers to the domestic market and does not affect commercial platforms.
The regulator said this would be the "most appropriate way of ensuring fair and effective competition".
However, Sky said it would fight any moves to force it to sell content to other broadcasters. "In light of Ofcom's determination to pursue its preferred outcome, we will use all available legal avenues to challenge this unwarranted intervention," it said.
The broadcaster said it disagreed "fundamentally with Ofcom's approach, analysis and conclusions". Ofcom has asked interested parties to give their views by 18 August.
Meanwhile, Sky confirmed that its Ultimate subscribers will be able to view US PGA golf after British Eurosport picked up the rights following the collapse of Setanta.
