Sky Italia Wins Battle in Mediaset World Cup Case

MILAN: The ICC Court of Arbitration has rejected claims from RTI (Mediaset Group) against Sky Italia regarding a dispute over the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

RTI has been alleging that Sky purchased the broadcast rights breaching the prohibition imposed by the "Undertakings" that the pay-TV signed with the European Commission in 2003 within its establishment. RTI asked the Court to make the rights available to other TV operators ahead of the start of the World Cup. RTI then asked for compensation for damages from the missed broadcasting opportunity. The Court has denied that the rights to broadcast the World Cup fall within enforcement of undertakings because they concern an event that is not "essential for competitiveness of a competing television operator."