Ofcom to Investigate Premier League TV Rights Deals

LONDON: British media regulator Ofcom has begun an investigation into how television rights deals for live Premier League matches are sold in the U.K.

The investigation follows a complaint being lodged by cable platform Virgin Media in September. According to the Competition Act, Ofcom says it can open an inquiry "where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is an agreement which has as its object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within the U.K. and/or the EU."

Virgin Media maintains that the collective selling of live U.K. broadcast rights for Premier League matches breaches competition law, and it takes issue with the number of matches made available for live broadcast. Under current Premier League rights deals, 41 percent are made available for live television broadcast. Virgin Media says this is lower than that of other major European leagues. These conditions are leading to higher prices for consumers, Virgin Media maintains.

Under the current Premier League deal, ending in 2016, Sky and BT share the rights.