Israeli IBA is criticized on football rights deals

Local media blamed Israel Broadcasting Authority Director General Joseph Barel for paying "astronomical prices" with public funds in favor of the rights to air football. The IBA recently approved the purchase of broadcasting rights for Israeli basketball games and English football Premier League matches from media company Charlton for NIS 5m (approx Euro 900,000), to be aired on its Channel 33. However, the reports claimed that IBA could have secured the English league games for free, under an agreement between the chairman of the Council for Cable and Satellite Broadcasting, attorney Yoram Mukadi, and the owners of Charlton, the franchisee is required to broadcast one of the games on an open channel. Barel was also criticized that IBA and had   undertaken to pay Charlton NIS 12.5m (approx Euro 2.3m) for a weekly television magazine that will cover Premier League games, the semifinals and final of the State Cup, the Toto Cup, and games from the National League. The agreement stipulates that the IBA will transfer the money to the Israel Football Association. The convoluted deal saves the paying of VAT on the purchase, because both the IBA and IFA are public bodies. IBA sources said yesterday that the issue of the payment being made by a third party has yet to be fully reviewed, and more than likely opposes regulations.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.