Sogecable under fire over Spanish football rights

net1

Sogecable, owner of terrestrial pay-TV channel Canal Plus and digital satellite platform Digital Plus, may face new charges from Brussels over its alleged monopoly over Spanish football pay-TV rights. Phedra Sport Eventos Deportivos, a company which specialises in the sale of TV rights, has presented a complaint before the European authorities accusing Sogecable, 30 Spanish football teams and the Spanish Professional Football League (LFP), of exploiting a dominant position in the management of Spanish football TV rights.

Phedra argues that the parties involved "have illegally created a monopolistic situation in favour of Sogecable" and to the detriment of other companies that have been excluded of the market. European Authorities will now study the case and take a decision whether to start proceedings or not over the next months.

This is not the first time Sogecable has faced a similar complaint. ONO, one of the largest cable companies in Spain, also denounced Sogecable over its dominant position in the football pay-TV market.