The Premiership to be portioned out

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

The Premier League have settled their dispute with the European Commission over television rights.

The EC say the deal over rights for the 2007/08 season will give fans "greater choice and better value".

The League have given a commitment that at least two broadcasters will share the rights in the future and no bidder will be allowed to buy more than five of the six packages of live games.

A statement from the League said shareholders had approved the deal, which was agreed with EC competition commissioner Neelie Kroes, who will now forward them for formal approval.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: "This has been a long and often complicated negotiation.

"We are grateful to the commissioner and her officials for the efforts they made to reach a workable compromise.

"We are pleased that this agreement addresses the commission's competition concerns, and paves the way for certainty surrounding how we sell our rights next time around."

The EC said in their statement: "Live TV rights will be sold in six balanced packages with no one bidder being allowed to buy all six packages.

"Packages will be sold to the highest stand-alone bidder for each package, and bids other than simple stand-alone bids will be disregarded."

The auction will be monitored by a trustee, selected by the commission, who will report back to the EC.

An EC spokesman also confirmed that the threat of legal action against the League had been lifted.

"The League's revised commitments address the points raised, including specifying the precise terms of the no-single-buyer rule and the conduct of the auction process, creating evenly-balanced packages of rights, and increasing the availability of rights to broadcast via mobile phones," the EC said.

Telegraph.co.uk

Personally I love the idea that live footy could come back onto terrestrial TV as I remember the happy days of top flight footy on a Sunday afternoon.

Hopefully this will set the precident that might bring live international cricket back onto the "Must be on terrestrial TV" list along with the Grand National, World Cup and Olympics.

[therockbox]

It won't be back on terrestrial TV, most of the pay-per view operators will snatch them up.

[TMM]

Oh god. ITV commentators are stupid idiots, and the BBC commentators bores me to tears half the time. Sky Sports actually have decent commentators who don't have bloody monotamous voices.

[The LBTN Express]

If it goes to anyone it'll probably be NTL/Telewest in partnership with Channel 5, or Setanta Sports with Bravo. I don't see the BBC or ITV getting any.

Sky will buy 5 packages, then someone will get just one.

[TAFKA Castroneves]

I imagine BBC wouldn't be too concerned with it all as they have MOTD coverage, but ITV might look into it as a way to counter them.

[Turbo Yannis]

Sky Sports actually have decent commentators who don't have bloody monotamous voices.

[Guest clarencepool]

Hopefully Channel 5 get a share of this. I love John Barnes' analysis.

[Colly]

And coming up next, Steven Seagal, in Under Siege 2. I'm (checks teleprinter) John Barnes, goodnight.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

And coming up next, Steven Seagal, in Under Siege 2. I'm (checks teleprinter) John Barnes, goodnight.

Nyuk nyuk, it's funny cos it's true :lmao: