UEFA awards CL rights to UPC

UEFA announced yesterday that the first sale of UEFA Champions League broadcast rights for the 2006-2009 seasons to the Dutch pay-TV broadcaster United Pan-Europe Communications NV (UPC) The package of pay-TV rights included are the exclusive rights for pick 3-16 of matches for the Netherlands and some non-exclusive rights. UEFA explained the reasons for the award to UPC were not only the competitive offers made for individual packages of rights in live and delayed matches, highlights and magazine programmes, but also the rapid growth of UPC in the Dutch pay-TV market and its focus on high quality football programming. UPC is one of the leading broadband communications companies in Europe. UPC offers television, Internet and telephony services to residential customers through its broadband networks. UPC has recently acquired the digital satellite pay-TV interests of French company Canal Plus, but in the Netherlands the consolidation of the acquisition has hit a short-term setback At the start of this month the Dutch competition regulator, the NMa suspended the purchase of Canal Plus’ assets in the Netherlands while it investigates the situation and both Canal and UPC have been invited to apply for a permit from the regulator for the acquisition. The NMa’s fears the consolidation would give UPC a dominant market position in the sector which might make it difficult for competitors to acquire content. UEFA also confirmed that offers were received from some terrestrial free-to-air broadcasters, but all of these bids need further clarification. UEFA has invited the broadcasters to resubmit the bids for all other rights apart from picks 3-16 through TEAM Marketing, its marketing agency intermediary, for the rights still available. In the UEFA media release, Lars-Christer Olsson, UEFA CEO commented: “ We are delighted with the outcome of this first bidding process. The result will provide an excellent platform for the Champions League matches in The Netherlands.”

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