Premier League: Virgin Media wants Ofcom to investigate the sales conditions of TV rights

Virgin Media, the British telecommunications group and cable-TV provider, has asked Ofcom, the UK independent regulatory authority for telecommunications competition, to investigate the sales conditions of the domestic broadcasting rights to the Barclays Premier League before the launch of the tender for the 2016-2019 cycle (scheduled for early 2015), the group said on 30/09/2014.

Virgin Media considers that these sales conditions generate exponential and harmful growth in the price of TV rights to the Premier League (+71% in 2013-2016, compared to the previous cycle), and contradicts the interests of UK consumers.

• According to Virgin Media, UK consumers are subject to pay-TV's most expensive subscriptions in Europe to watch their domestic championship.
• Virgin Media predicts that the amount of TV rights for the Premier League is going to grow by 60% from 2016 to 2019.
• Ofcom said it would consider the request, and indicate by the end of October or early November 2014 whether it will take up the investigation request of Virgin Media.

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