commiss decis februari relat proceed pursuant articl eec treati iv screensport ebu member english text authent eec commiss european commun regard treati establish european econom commun regard council regul februari regul implement articl eec treati amend act access spain portug articl thereof regard applic find infring submit decemb pursuant articl regul smith amp son screen sport screensport hereinaft screensport regard notif applic neg clearanc submit commiss eurosport consortium sky televis plc hereinaft sky satellit sport sale satellit sport servic new intern plc hereinaft ni januari regard commiss decis decemb initi proceed case undertak associ undertak concern opportun make view object rais commiss pursuant articl regul commiss regul eec juli hear provid articl council regul consult advisori committe restrict practic domin posit fact complaint notif decemb screensport regist complaint commiss activ european broadcast union hereinaft ebu member refus grant screensport sublic sport event ebu member acquir exclus right effect commerci cabl satellit compani screensport prevent compet ebu member field sport programm ii joint ventur ebu member ni establish televis sport channel eurosport decis mention ebu activ deal aspect complaint subject separ proceed initi commiss case iv statement object commiss eurosport consortium ni connect point ii decemb januari commiss receiv notif applic neg clearanc seri agreement relat eurosport sport channel televis servic includ eurosport consortium agreement sign member ebu hereinaft member withdraw addit consortium current membership orf austria brt belgium rtbf belgium dr denmark yle finland ert greec ruv iceland rte ireland rai itali nrk norwai svt sweden ssr switzerland bbc unit kingdom jrt yugoslavia cybc cypru trt turkei iba israel ii sharehold agreement sign decemb sky televis plc eurosport consortium provid inter alia exclus ownership satellit sport sale sky recit iii servic agreement sign decemb satellit sport servic hereinaft servic compani jointli own eurosport consortium sky iv facil agreement sign decemb sky servic compani guarante sign decemb ni parent compani sky eurosport consortium supplementari statement object commiss eurosport consortium sky april complain screensport compani regist england provid commerci transnat satellit televis sport channel servic oper march march deliv programm low power satellit cabl system part europ addit servic directli consum mean domest satellit dish launch astra satellit februari servic multilingu european countri includ eec member state provid screensport conjunct partner countri franc germani netherland sharehold screensport own smith remain share held espn major satellit cabl channel usa jointli own abc capit citi year june screensport turnov million result loss compani period screensport channel consist exclus sport programm transmit languag english french german dutch eurosport eurosport screensport transnat satellit televis channel servic dedic sport oper februari astra satellit televis viewer footprint satellit receiv servic cabl televis oper directli domest satellit dish receiv european countri includ eec member state broadcast hour dai english german dutch eurosport consortium product agreement conclud group ebu member consortium contractu link sky undertak sky group compani ni parent sky eurosport consortium eurosport consortium consortium member ebu associ broadcast organ establish membership ebu open broadcast organ group organ member countri intern telecommun union itu situat european broadcast area defin radio regul annex intern telecommun convent provid countri author compet author broadcast servic nation charact nation import prove fulfil condit set oblig cover entir nation popul fact cover substanti part thereof endeavour achiev full coverag due oblig provid vari balanc program section popul includ fair share programm cater special minor interest section public irrespect ratio programm cost audienc produc commiss editori control substanti proport programm broadcast ebu activ member countri situat european broadcast area public servic broadcast membership open consortia includ eurosport consortium activ ebu member elig particip institution exchang system tv programm includ sport programm european network eurovis member particip system open consortia consist exclus activ member countri provid transnat televis programm servic eurovis base reciproc broadcast organ cover event includ sport event take place nation territori potenti interest eurovis member offer signal basic video intern sound feed free charg eurovis member understand return receiv offer member event take place respect countri origin broadcast organ infrastructur enabl visit broadcast function properli commentari posit reciproc arrang similar kind exist intervis eastern european counterpart eurovis reciproc agre broadcast union jointli acquir world right fifa world cup past futur face grow competit commerci broadcast present ebu member provid exclus program respect major sport event achiev jointli acquir right sport event exchang signal part eurovis system refer present major proport exchang made eurovis consist sport programm balanc made new item acquir right sport event ebu member fact transmit small proport event question averag member transmit sport event potenti eurovis system ebu member attribut public mission oblig prevent concentr unduli type programm order provid extens coverag event sought intern sport feder reinforc negoti posit acquisit right sport event face grow competit commerci broadcast right ebu began examin feasibl associ establish satellit televis channel dedic sport work group set effect report interest member organ ebu basi report decid proce establish channel experienc commerci failur establish previou joint satellit channel europa tv decid futur joint sport channel carri ebu member conjunct undertak experienc field commerci satellit televis bear financi risk project sky select applic announc press decemb prior select sky plan sport channel number specialist channel intend launch eurosport consortium establish expressli provid eurosport servic part ebu member agreement effect formal sign origin member member subsequ withdrawn agreement consortium attract membership member ebu principl elig particip member admit consent third exist member member recit agreement consortium associ legal person establish period year end anniversari start eurosport servic servic compris princip programm base materi made consortium ebu member includ member consortium member consortium accept consortium free oper programm polici entitl includ programm servic time manner think fit member withhold consortium programm programm view prevent delai inclus servic regard sport programm produc acquir member member request consortium make programm right member relat freeli consortium restrict purpos servic endeavour secur consult consortium repres addit right permit programm includ servic endeavour consult consortium extend coverag event long product facil site make commentari consortium guid provid commentari posit event consortium repres accord eurovis reciproc rule context note eurovis rule ebu member origin programm host broadcast entitl prevent eurosport broadcast programm territori languag limit appli case sport event belong common sport heritag european nation winter olymp game summer olymp game footbal world cup european footbal championship member entitl contribut consortium cost incur connect programm made includ servic contribut account type sport programm made member number hour programm materi made includ servic addit member suffer disproportion impact loss audienc due exist servic compens part profit aris activ consortium member wish withdraw consortium fourth anniversari date member join give year written notic fact undertak reason endeavour notic make consortium request sport programm materi type previous time period offer make eurovis programm exchang consortium requir inform ebu administr council regularli activ sky sky televis plc satellit televis plc compani regist england subsidiari nl ultim parent compani new corpor compani incorpor south australia consolid turnov group million turnov nl million sky remain loss make undertak present princip activ sky transmiss english languag satellit broadcast servic europ past centr sky channel gener entertain satellit channel includ sport programm receiv million household countri europ includ eec member state june announc channel relaunch part channel direct braodcast network call sky televis channel includ eurosport revamp sky channel sky unit kingdom began transmiss astra satellit februari sky channel continu acquir right broadcast sport event involv sky propos european sport channel made public announc made press decemb ni involv joint ventur group ebu member launch satellit sport channel eurosport fact repres ni particip previou meet ebu sport work parti held discuss organ set channel element parti involv ventur made time press announc month leas transpond astra satellit sky channel includ eurosport final detail complet sign seri agreement decemb sharehold agreement sign sky eurosport consortium inter alia sky eurosport consortium share equal ownership manag servic compani manag sky eurosport consortium entitl appoint director compani eurosport consortium nomin head program sky nomin manag director agreement sale compani wholli own sky sky agre appoint director compani nomin eurosport consortium director provid data relat sale compani member board director includ manag account inform trade posit sale compani entitl disclos eurosport consortium addit agreement eurosport consortium requir execut servic agreement sky eurosport consortium respect power procur execut agreement servic compani eurosport consortium requir execut sale agreement sky procur execut agreement sale compani sky requir execut procur execut sale compani financ agreement sky requir execut facil agreement sky consortium respect power procur execut agreement servic compani sharehold agreement detail sport program materi eurosport consortium undertak make broadcast eurosport sport program produc acquir member program subparagraph sport program acquir member program offer ebu eurovis programm exchang eurovis member ebu member eurosport provid program form part eurovis contrari nation law place incorpor establish relev member program made ii addit right acquir request servic compani member concern iii program made exclus basi iv case program made subject condit reserv qualif impos accord regul govern eurovis time time member undertak sky grant sublic permit inclus program subparagraph recit reserv servic defin provid primarili recept servic area transpond time transmiss eurosport reserv prioriti eurosport hour end event daili competit event last dai understood member servic compani notic wish sublicens program notic reserv servic reserv prioriti hour receipt notic servic compani member notic select program inclus eurosport hour prioriti period member sublicens program reserv prioriti purpos claus reserv servic mean transnat televis servic televis broadcast servic intend recept countri aim primarili audienc singl countri ii parti nation satellit televis servic televis broadcast servic provid mean satellit fix satellit broadcast satellit servic aim primarili audienc singl countri member bona fide econom interest provid programm materi servic provid eurovis member term time time defin ebu ii servic member requir sublicens program reserv prioriti reason applic law regul decis court compet author reason contract exist date agreement disclos sky prior date thereof applic abovement claus modifi chang ebu sublicens rule juli ebu adopt scheme sublic member dealt case iv ebu eurovis scheme sublic made interest parti subject embargo limit number hour restrict time volum transmiss list sport event ebu behalf member acquir standard world right defin attach agreement eurosport consortium warrant sky right subsist time signatur agreement intend continu period year earli termin permit circumst provis made extens agreement servic agreement conclud eurosport consortium servic compani own jointli eurosport consortium sky suppli facil servic consortium includ relat establish eurosport channel includ negoti consortium behalf transpond uplink facil technic support liaison supplier regulatori author establish channel ii relat oper eurosport channel includ prepar select programm materi inclus channel iii account administr servic personnel servic oper distribut servic copyright programm includ servic materi includ belong remain properti eurosport consortium member owner license sale agreement conclud eurosport consortium satellit sport sale hereinaft sale compani wholli own sky includ director nomin eurosport consortium agreement eurosport consortium grant sale compani exclus contract transmiss advertiz eurosport ii author sale compani impos charg recept retransmiss satellit servic contract made cabl oper effect requir form previous approv write servic compani iii grant sale compani enter agreement person organ programm associ air sponsorship programm includ servic agreement accord inter alia guidelin laid servic compani exist sponsorship oblig eurosport consortium member notifi sale compani return eurosport consortium inter alia agre includ satellit servic advertis deliv sale compani provid servic daili basi agre addit eurosport consortium undertak make satellit servic distribut enabl sale compani compli oblig agreement avail satellit servic public gener coverag area facil agreement sky servic compani sky agre provid procur servic compani cost experienc personnel facil recommend inform advic request enabl carri oblig servic agreement financ agreement sky sale compani sky agre provid sale compani facil includ execut technic personnel premis servic fund interest free loan sale compani requir order carri oblig activ sale agreement return sale compani requir pai sky facil servic provid ni parent sky televis plc irrevoc guarante eurosport consortium consider eurosport consortium enter sharehold agreement subsidiari due punctual perform observ sky sale compani respect oblig agreement case default perform observ oblig natur eurosport accept eurosport commerci viabl eurosport consortium constantli stress repres extens member activ constitut public servic channel present eurosport programm schedul made ebu programm materi produc member consortium member ebu emphasi fact servic broadcast eurosport consortium respons programm schedul servic provid sky sale servic compani form subcontract relationship basi eurosport enjoi right ebu member eurovis system concern cabl oper sport organ agent encourag accept public servic charact eurosport inevit servic consid bodi close ebu member includ member eurosport consortium contrast view public tend associ eurosport close sky inaugur channel heavili advertis unit kingdom sky satellit channel launch sky televis astra satellit contin channel close link sky channel fact servic share cabl channel eurosport replac sky channel cabl network receiv servic satellit market recent televis viewer depend nation public broadcast organ access televis sport televis transmit nation terrestri network licenc oper gener confin public organ charg public servic oblig relat programm qualiti divers educ sport gener consid fall scope public mission coverag major intern event olymp game footbal world cup european footbal championship nation event interest domest public organ chosen highlight sport event case extens coverag constrain oblig televis type programm time monopoli confer nation broadcast servic enabl secur exclus frequent long term broadcast right sport event right negoti ebu eurovis system guarante member free access signal programm broadcast member territori privileg price right low sport organ concern secur televis coverag order attract sponsorship widest promot event televis audienc recent year technic innov result introduct cabl satellit televis servic transmiss televis signal satellit cabl oper contract receiv servic question distribut viewer area deregul televis broadcast place member state led establish number commerci broadcast oper local nation transnat basi provid diversifi rang programm includ sport specialist servic sport film art children programm latest technic develop direct home broadcast satellit signal pick directli small domest satellit dish erect purpos eurosport screensport oper basi provid transnat servic europ access viewer cabl oper remain vital servic present heavili cabl countri pend growth domest satellit market commerci broadcast financ princip advert revenu addit charg subscript fee compet revenu base audienc rate servic high rate turn depend attract programm content schedul broadcast concern public broadcast immun impact commerci televis degre financi depend advertis revenu contrari strive attain highest audienc rate servic condit oper fulfil sport area attract number commerci oper part gener entertain channel specialist sport channel audienc rate high event popular commerci sponsor nation commerci channel select event interest domest audienc transnat servic attract fact sport programm transcend linguist boundari make suitabl transnat broadcast advert result public broadcast increasingli face competit acquisit broadcast right sport event time organ event agent awar event broadcast price increas addit increas tendenc unbundl right distinguish terrestri cabl satellit right event shown live defer basi extens coverag permit limit highlight sell right separ present number nation commerci broadcast offer gener entertain servic includ amount sport programm nation viewer member state promin sat rtl germani canal la cinq franc channel outbid ebu specif sport event addit ufa member bertelsmann group purchas exclus world right wimbledon unit kingdom previous shown eurovis commerci satellit channel dedic sport began oper unit kingdom british satellit broadcast novemb compani agre merg sky creat compani british sky broadcast propos compani oper sport channel sky sport direct unit kingdom eurosport channel direct audienc continent europ plan nation commerci satellit sport channel exist franc sport transnat satellit sport channel limit screensport eurosport transmit astra satellit footprint cover geograph area includ member state european commun sport organ agent sought maintain relationship public broadcast number establish reput qualiti sport event transmit guarante nation coverag event addit eurovis system enabl sport organ agent negoti sale right number countri eurovis area singl bodi ebu guarante coverag ebu member wish particip event greatli simplifi deal sell process notwithstand neg impact competitor system event ebu hold exclus right number major intern event contract expir increas competit privat broadcast led major event tradition broadcast ebu member includ wimbledon open tenni championship move hand privat broadcast practic ebu continu acquir right major event ebu secur right summer winter olymp game take place purchas right footbal world cup championship right european champion cup final stage european cupwinn cup competit creation eurosport claim screensport exacerb previou problem acquir access major sport event european event nation intern show transnat channel eurosport direct access programm produc ebu member member member eurosport consortium screensport connect eurovis network claim discrimin screensport prevent broadcast european base sport event concern screensport respect eurosport access live event simultan member eurosport consortium consortium member choos show select highlight stage eurosport consortium admit programm coordin take place eurosport result screensport claim cabl network favour eurosport comparison servic includ network countri consortium member exist problem accentu sky polici replac sky channel servic even eurosport establish network seek replac servic eurosport current contract expir contrast sky claim creation eurosport pro anti competit consum benefit introduct dedic sport channel enabl extens coverag sport event shown nation televis live possibl conveni time possibl combin nation channel earli round competit shown eurosport final nation channel addit viewer possibl time event previous shown nation audienc ii legal assess articl parti concern case undertak mean articl basic agreement establish transnat satellit televis sport channel servic eurosport sharehold agreement sign sky eurosport consortium decemb inter alia creat servic compani full detail oper channel right oblig parti thereto found refer complex seri agreement sign member ebu sign eurosport consortium agreement ii eurosport consortium sky undertak sky group guarante provid ni parent sky agreement mean articl collect agreement object effect restrict distort competit partner joint ventur extent actual potenti competitor market broadcast sport event ii regard parti seek broadcast sport event transnat dedic sport channel prior launch packag satellit channel includ eurosport unit kingdom commun countri sky satellit televis plc oper transnat satellit cabl televis servic sky channel viewer uk commun countri belgium germani ireland netherland gener entertain channel servic includ number sport event sky activ involv seek acquir right event inclus channel decid enter direct satellit broadcast gener sky contempl channel dedic sport sky potenti partner ventur interest ebu member eurosport consortium awar sky qualiti experienc broadcast transnat commerci satellit televis includ sport event threat sky direct competitor transnat commerci satellit channel dedic sport sky part establish channel encount problem screensport acquir sport program materi competit ebu form sublic ebu part consortium ebu member eurosport consortium regard potenti competitor sky clear member ebu contempl establish transnat satellit sport channel decid carri ventur collabor undertak respect recal undertak addit sky appli enter collabor applic actual potenti sport channel time incent sky offer substant competit eurosport elimin potenti competit parent form rival transnat satellit televis channel dedic sport ceas consequ agreement establish eurosport ii point sky eurosport televis channel programm includ sport programm plan futur includ number channel dedic sport claim sky eurosport consortium exist channel restrict effect market contrari pro competit natur stimulu potenti channel respect examin market televis sport programm detail establish public broadcast requir televis import major event extract thereof event great interest domest audienc includ sport minor appeal broadcast establish nation audienc expect event includ nation televis commerci nation televis channel recognis sport event attract high rate domest audienc advertis revenu sought exploit market purchas right specif sport event aim attract nation audienc public broadcast servic transnat commerci channel provid gener entertain servic seek sport effect attract sport channel transcend linguist boundari channel elect select sport event nation commerci channel choos wider intern appeal transnat channel dedic wholli sport adopt select polici contrari mandat carri wide varieti sport includ extens coverag greatest number event interest potenti audienc includ minor group take account financi viabil rest attract advertis possibl subscript revenu high audienc rate present transnat commerci televis channel type oper screensport eurosport transmit astra satellit direct competitor geograph audienc compet type programm materi sponsor advertis addit seek succe domain direct satellit market await develop market depend reach widest audienc cabl network oper compar posit eurosport screensport potenti transnat commerci satellit televis sport channel term joint ventur confer privileg posit regard programm materi eurosport grant unrestrict access programm produc acquir member eurosport consortium includ programm acquir eurovis system ebu member member consortium servic prioriti access programm sublic grant ebu member recit list event ebu member acquir exclus standard world right defin includ joint ventur agreement includ major intern event eurosport entitl select list right subsequ acquir event wish includ servic freeli choos extent coverag requir utmost import offer programm live defer basi independ consortium member choos coordin schedul event question recal context ebu member reserv exclus right live sport programm produc acquir member virtu agreement issu decis eurosport channel includ system contrast eurosport parti acquir limit access eurovis materi sublic grant ebu individu member prioriti live broadcast particip eurovis system sublic principl defer transmiss subject embargo restrict time volum transmiss eurosport direct access ebu programm restrict impos effect depriv parti transnat televis channel nation orient direct satellit broadcast satellit cabl channel equal opportun compet eurosport programm show live coverag addit eurosport access free charg signal transmit abovement programm host nation member ebu part eurovis system reciproc similar concess commerci sport channel requir pai signal provid market acquisit right sport event import object eurosport interest ebu member concern increas benefit collect negoti posit ebu member regard numer intern event enabl make packag deal includ event interest nation public broadcast constitut programm materi dedic sport channel view commiss joint purchas polici oper ebu eurovis scheme confer ebu member degre market power fact privat broadcast outbid ebu event ebu current market power appear diminish compar posit continu power bodi privileg situat market acquisit programm right remain year member bodi reinforc posit potenti competitor sky long term agreement favour joint transnat commerci satellit channel wholli dedic sport event reduc opportun parti independ transnat sport channel servic compet equal foot eurosport acquisit satellit cabl right ebu thirdli close link eurosport channel ebu eurosport consortium eurovis programm materi factor favour eurosport potenti transnat sport channel cabl oper concern determin sport channel servic includ network pend develop domest satellit dish market role cabl oper crucial continu financi viabil transnat satellit sport channel secur suffici high audienc attract advertis revenu continu oper respect cabl oper attract claim public servic charact eurosport addit number accept daili switch sky channel eurosport contractu relationship sky enabl eurosport quickli access larg audienc effect trade member state transnat charact eurosport directli satellit cabl distribut western europ includ sport programm event take place part world right acquir group broadcast organ countri western europ restrict competit state affect trade common market relev advert market present strong transnat element interest import advert engag import export busi reach potenti client member state fall scope articl case confin effect felt commun articl claim eurosport consortium member satellit channel creat sky order fulfil public mission purpos eurosport channel transmit europ programm produc acquir member consortium due subcontract relationship basi servic eurosport consortium provid channel public broadcast channel commerci incent creation refer made member recov cost sport programm produc broadcast view gener programm constraint impos reason eurosport consortium argu except provid articl undertak entrust oper servic gener econom interest hinder competit rule perform task assign appli public mission oblig impos member state nation broadcast organ render undertak entrust servic gener econom interest extent highli doubt nation charact oblig interpret extend transnat activ collect natur eurosport event applic articl joint ventur agreement sky group prevent fulfil mission mention readili admit commerci charact ventur sky enter pure econom reason provid manag expertis financi assist expect dai make profit articl improv product distribut good promot technic econom progress claim sky eurosport improv product distribut market number respect themat televis channel broadcast nation boundari promot sport gener sport promot audienc benefit channel follow technic econom progress encourag increas satellit technolog promot sport increas invest sport opportun sponsor advertis eurosport part eurosport consortium emphas fact eurosport enabl member optim exploit transmiss right recoup invest screensport reject argument claim benefit achiev licens surplu right multipl parti includ screensport eurosport narrow distribut ebu member prefer continu channel surplu right sole outlet oblig increas commerci pressur licens wide desist place acquir right exploit repli argument commiss acknowledg achiev eurosport set transnat commerci satellit televis channel dedic sport improv mean articl practic effect disproportion distort competit market question technic econom progress promot circumst commiss take view vital import develop industri requir consider invest technolog develop prioriti ensur competit level remain open confer potenti market entrant equal opportun compet benefit consum claim parti arguabl short term consum benefit introduct dedic sport channel enabl extens coverag sport event shown nation televis live possibl conveni time possibl combin nation channel earli round competit shown eurosport final nation channel addit viewer possibl time event previous shown nation audienc reason fail possibl offer autonom develop dedic sport channel sky group publicli announc sky group extens broadcast sport event consum serv make inform choic channel offer equal wide varieti european sport programm includ major intern event differ style present qualiti content circumst consum decid ultim channel kind eventu succe indispens contrari argument parti commiss convinc transnat sport channel eurosport exist basi joint ventur group member ebu back organ main competitor capabl creat altern ventur view commiss creation joint ventur basi present agreement excess impli restrict competit regard indispens establish dedic sport channel transnat dimens capabl rival sport channel benefit consum commiss accept restrict contain agreement indispens oper ventur channel privileg posit compar channel broadcast sport event transnat sport channel conclus circumst viewpoint competit law disadvantag link scheme notifi parent eurosport outweigh improv benefit market question reason commiss reject applic exempt articl adopt decis articl joint ventur agreement relat contractu provis hand member eurosport consortium hand sky televis plc satellit sport sale satellit sport servic new intern plc notifi commiss januari constitut infring articl eec treati effect grant direct access eurovis system articl exempt articl eec treati agreement implement relat rule mention articl refus articl decis address undertak member eurosport consortium union européenn de radiodiffus case postal ch grand saconnex geneva sky televis plc sky televis centr centaur busi park grant isleworth uk middlesex tw qk satellit sport sale po box virginia street uk london xy satellit sport servic po box virginia street uk london xy new intern plc po box virginia street uk london bd brussel februari commiss leon brittan vice presid oj oj