Nieuwe kartelregels toegepast op de liberalisatie van marketingrechten van de Bundesliga (en)

vrijdag 17 september 2004

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Competition Commissioner Mario Monti welcomed the improvements: "Top-class sport is crucial for encouraging the growth of the new media. More live broadcasting rights for the new media will benefit consumers, the media and the clubs."

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Monti also commented on the first use of the new commitments procedure. Under the new rules commitments can be legally binding. This is the first time that the commitments have been published in the Official Journal[1] and on the internet. "The fact that we have been able to make swift and effective use of a new legal instrument in a difficult area shows how successful modernisation has been. The procedure increases transparency for all market operators," said Monti.

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More live broadcasting rights and an improved marketing model

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The main objective of the procedure is to open up the central marketing of Bundesliga broadcasting rights without destroying it. Clubs will be able to market the rights in certain areas but will still benefit from the "one-stop-shop" for the league brand and face lower transaction costs. The changes to the marketing rules took account of the consultations that took place in October 2003[2] and have resulted in the following improvements:

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  • From the start of the 2006/7 season every match day the League will offer at least 90 minutes live reporting with all highlights on the internet. In addition to the products offered by the League, from the 2006/7 season clubs will also be able to market their home games themselves directly after the final whistle has blown.
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  • Clubs will be able to show their matches live via mobile phones.

This will make it possible to offer attractive new services. "The liberalisation of the Bundesliga marketing rules will help encourage innovation and competition in the media," explained Monti.

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Background

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The entry into force of the new Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 on 1 May 2004 changed the legal framework governing the Bundesliga case. The legal changes have done away with the traditional system of notification and authorisation. The new procedure is intended to make commitments given by the DFL binding on the organisation and subsequently to stop proceedings.

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Before the final decision is adopted the public hearing that takes place under Article 27(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 gives all interested parties the chance to submit their observations within the framework of the new procedure.

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[1] OJ C 229/13, 14.9.2004.

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[2] OJ C 261/13, 30.10.2003; see also IP/03/1106.

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