Written question asked by Baroness May of Maidenhead (Conservative) on Thursday, 19 May 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 May 2005. It was answered by Richard Caborn (Labour) on Monday, 6 June 2005 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Premier League Football (TV Rights)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department (a) plans to have and (b) has had with the (i) European Commission, (ii) other Government Departments and (iii) other interested parties, regarding the collective bargaining of Premier League Football television rights.

Answer: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had a number of meetings with the FA Premier League in the last six months to discuss a wide range of issues including the future of the Premier League's broadcasting rights. At these meetings the Secretary of State has made it clear that this is a competition issue in which the Government has no locus to intervene.The Secretary of State has had no meetings with the European Commission or other Government Departments to discuss this issue, nor has she any plans to do so in the near future.There has been, and will continue to be, ongoing discussion between a number of Whitehall Departments, including the Department for Trade and Industry, Department for Culture Media and Sport, and Cabinet Office, the regulators, Office for Fair Trading (OFT) and Office for Communication (OFCOM), and UKREP and DG Competition about the Premier League competition case.At these meetings the Government have made clear that this is a competition issue in which the Government have no locus to intervene.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 781; 434 c265-6W;434 c267-8W
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Premier League Football (TV Rights)
Thursday, 20 October 2005
Written questions
House of Commons; Premier League Football (TV Rights)
Thursday, 20 October 2005
Written questions
House of Commons; Premier League Football (TV Rights)
Thursday, 20 October 2005
Written questions
House of Commons; Premier League Football (TV Rights)
Thursday, 20 October 2005
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Broadcasting programmes Football Television Premier League