Sky Italia Under Investigation over World Cup Rights

ROME: Italy’s antitrust authority is launching an investigation into Sky Italia for alleged abuse of its dominant market position in acquiring broadcast rights for the World Cup.

The investigation is over the acquisition of exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2010 and 2014 World Cup games. The authority is looking into whether this constitutes anti-competitive abuse. The probe was initiated from a complaint brought about in May by Mediaset.

The antitrust began its probe on November 3 and is expected to wrap up by the end of November 2011.