Austria

[AT] Broadcasting rights for soccer games to be assigned to non-domestic private television broadcaster?

IRIS 1996-4:1/28

Ad van Loon

European Audiovisual Observatory

Currently in Austria, it is not yet possible for a private television broadcaster to obtain a broadcasting licence. Recently, however, a private commercial Austrian broadcaster, RTS, obtained a non-domestic satellite broadcasting licence in the UK with the intention to start a programme directed to the Austrian public.

The April issue of the German monthly magazine INFOSAT reports that RTS is now negotiating with the German sports rights agency ISPR, owner of the broadcasting rights of the Austrian federal football league in order to obtain these rights.

If succesful, RTS would start its satellite programme in August 1996.