Court Rules In Favour Of Pubs Using Foreign Satellite

The Situation · 3rd February 2011, 11:23 AM

http://fourfourtwo.com/news/england/72850/default.aspx

Quote:

The advocate general of the European Court of Justice has come out in favour of pubs using foreign satellite feeds to provide coverage for football fans.

In what could be a major blow to the FA Premier League and its live broadcasters Sky and ESPN, Advocate General Julianne Kokott says the use of decoder cards should not be restricted to one country within the EU, as this would "partition the internal market" – against the ethos of the European Union.

“The marketing of broadcasting rights on the basis of territorial exclusivity is tantamount to profiting from the elimination of the internal market,” she said.

“Consequently, the specific subject-matter of the rights in the transmission of football matches does not justify a partitioning of the internal market, and thus also does not justify the resulting restriction of the freedom to provide services.”

SATURDAY WINDOW

The news could have huge ramifications on UK football. Premier League matches are broadcast live in several countries but not in the UK during a Saturday-afternoon window, in order to protect attendance figures at grounds throughout the league pyramid.

These foreign broadcasts are easily obtainable via satellite and several pubs openly flout the ruling. Hampshire publican Karen Murphy is currently in court fighting the ruling, and it is from this case that the latest developments have emerged.

The statement is "not binding on the Court of Justice" and the ECJ judges will now retire to consider their own verdicts on the case. They are expected to give their ruling later this year, at which point the UK High Court will discuss how to incorporate the European ruling.

The Premier League will release a statement later today and are expected to fight any overturning of the current ruling. However, the biggest effects could be felt further down the leagues, with attendances facing a severe threat from the presence of live top-flight football in pubs.

SHY TALL KNIGHT · 3rd February 2011, 11:24 AM

Excellent news.

MackemMagic · 3rd February 2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHY TALL KNIGHT

Excellent news.

Not for Quinny

LeadBelly86 · 3rd February 2011, 11:25 AM

The money bubble may just be about to burst imo.

Sebastien · 3rd February 2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MackemMagic

Not for Quinny

IHA to turn purple in 5.... 4.... 3.... 2....

SHY TALL KNIGHT · 3rd February 2011, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeadBelly86

The money bubble may just be about to burst imo.

Clubs will have to drop ticket prices.

kingbant1 · 3rd February 2011, 11:27 AM

This thread is just about to take an unfortunate turn about attendances......

Guinness Guzzler · 3rd February 2011, 11:27 AM

It probably wont affect lower league clubs too much tbh, they'll just end up moving all the PL games to Sundays and keeping lower league games on a Saturday.

rocky · 3rd February 2011, 11:28 AM

Quinny should get it at The SoL for away games, get the sports bar packed

Giddup Sausage! · 3rd February 2011, 11:29 AM

Don't see all the hassle myself.

People who go to the match go because they want to be there, not because it's not on in the pub.

People who go to the pub to watch it go because they want to watch it in the pub and don't want to go to the stadium. If it wasn't on in the pub they 99% of the time wouldn't go over anyways.

BTW, how much are these boxes? I might look into getting one.