Television Blackout of Champions League Qualifier

The Champions League qualifying match between Portuguese SL Benfica and Belgium RSC Anderlecht which took place in Lisbon was “black screened” for Global Sportnet clients, the exclusive rights holder of the international rights to home matches of the Portuguese club. The match rights which were sold by the company to several broadcasters in Europe have been blocked 19 minutes after kick-off. Local Portuguese company Olivedesportos which held the national rights, has informed the company, shortly before kick-off, that Olivedesportos has sold the television rights to RTPI, the international arm of Portuguese broadcaster RTP, a channel which can be seen in many countries around the world. Whereas such act jeopardized the rights sold by Global Sportnet to its clients, Global Sportnet has immediately informed the host broadcaster SportTV about the fact that Olivedesportos has sold rights to RTPI without a legal basis and requested them to make the television signal available only to broadcasters licensed by Global Sportnet. Whereas Olivedesportos request that Global Sportnet will accept RTPI to broadcast on a worldwide basis was denied, the television signal has been blocked by host broadcaster SportTV for all of Global Sportnet’s clients. “We will definitely protect our rights by legal action and will also claim for damages” said Mirjam Ende, Head of Legal and Business Affairs at Global Sportnet.

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