Tackling Monopolies

Tackling monopolies Feb 5th 1998 Fans are paying more to watch sport every year. Is it time for governments to intervene? MONOPOLY in sport is suddenly a sensitive issue. The escalating cost of watching games is pushing anti-trust authorities to examine the deals between sporting bodies and broadcasters. Britain’s competition watchdog is scrutinising English football. The European Commission now has several investigations under way into restrictive practices in European football and monopolistic behaviour in Formula …

…attracted many new fans in recent years, most of whom have no connection with Manchester. That process would speed up, Mr Noll says, if teams could sell their rights individually, because they would gain wider audiences of more fickle television fans. Anti-trust authorities in both Europe and America should try to make sure teams compete as fiercely off the pitch as they do on it. * “Fair game? Tackling monopoly in sports broadcasting.” January 1998. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**