Competition policy and the commercialization of sport broadcasting rights: The decision of the Italian Competition Authority

In 1999 the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) stated that the regulation of the Italian League allowing it to sell football broadcasting rights collectively was a restrictive agreement. The League changed its regulation and a new form of revenue redistribution compatible with individual commercialization was established. The paper compares the ICA decision with other cases concerning the commercialization of sport broadcasting rights (especially the decision of the British Restrictive Practices Court). It shows that individual commercialization does not necessarily imply problems concerning competitive balance when an appropriate redistribution system of the revenues is pursued. Some implications for competition in the downstream television market are also analysed.Competition Policy, Football Broadcasting Rights, Television Industry,