EC conducts unannounced inspections on sports broadcasters

Nieuws Video Europa 11 APR 2018
EC conducts unannounced inspections on sports broadcasters

European Commission (EC) officials have carried out unannounced inspections of the offices of various companies across EU member states active in the distribution of media rights and other related rights pertaining to sports events and/or their broadcasting. 

In a statement, the EC said that it was concerned that the companies involved had violated EU antitrust regulations against cartels and restrictive business practices. Officials from the relevant national competition authorities supported the EC investigators. These unannounced inspections are a preliminary step into suspected anti-competitive practices. 

A spokesperson for 21st Century Fox, which controls pay-TV group Sky, confirmed to UK newspaper 'The Guardian' that its London offices had been inspected and that it was fully cooperating with the EC.  

The EC also paid a visit to Ziggo Sport in the Netherlands, the premium channel run by cable operator VodafoneZiggo. The company said it's cooperating fully with the EC, but declined to comment further. 

Categories:

Video

Companies:

Ziggo,  VodafoneZiggo,  European Commission,  Sky,  21st Century Fox

Regions:

Europa

Tags:

Services, Market, Regulations, Wholesale, Client

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