German cartel office to Bundesliga: Change your rights tender to prevent a broadcast monopoly
The Bundeskartellamt, Germany’s federal cartel body, has ordered the German Football league to amend its terms of the Bundesliga domestic media rights tender covering 2021/22 to 2024/25. The Bundeskartellamt expressed concern that the tender as it currently exists would allow a single broadcaster to purchase all four subscription packages targeted at pay-TV broadcasters and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, as long [...]
Global Editors Network announces closure
On 7 November, the Global Editors Network (GEN) announced that after 9 years of supporting journalists and fostering cooperation across the media it will close as a result of its terminal financial difficulties. GEN, the worldwide association of editors-in-chief and senior news executives, was founded in 2011 as an NGO to support news media overcome the challenges and seize [...]
Australian press takes a stand for media freedom
The Australian media - under the banner of Australia's Right to Know - has united behind a press freedom campaign to protest against the veil of secrecy that has enveloped the country as the Federal Government uses the law to clamp down on media freedom, often in the name of national security. The coalition includes Nine, News Corp, the ABC, SBS, The [...]
11th international Play the Game conference: Jens Sejer Andersen highlights the importance of the free news media in upholding sport integrity
In a powerful and uplifting speech, Jens Sejer Andersen recalled the progress Play the Game has made with its partners - foremost amongst those journalists from the free news media - in not only shining the light on corruption and doping in sport but also in tackling these scourges in the sporting world: "Just one decade ago, all the challenges [...]
Premier League pushes back against pirates at BeoutQ
The City of London Magistrate's Court has found Mr Ammar Al-Silaw guilty for selling set-top boxes which provided access to unauthorised broadcasts of its games on channels including Saudi Arabia-based pirate service BeoutQ. The Premier League prosecuted the case, following an investigation carried out in cooperation with the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police. [...]
Premier League appoints Guardian’s David Pemsel as chief executive
In his new position, he will face many challenges - yet the following six are surely the greatest: Power of the Big Six When the Premier League was formed in 1992, football clubs were, by and large, owned by local businessmen. Peter Swales, then the chairman of Manchester City, made his money in the Manchester hi-fi trade. These days City [...]