Spain

[ES] Adoption of Law on the Broadcasting of Major Events

IRIS 1997-8:1/19

Alberto Pérez Gómez

Entidad publica empresarial RED.ES

On 3 July 1997 a new law relating to the broadcasting of sports and other events of national interest was adopted in Spain.

This controversial law regulates the access of the media to sport stadiums, and establishes that a special Television Commission will be entrusted with the task of deciding which events are to be considered of national interest. These events cannot be broadcast on a pay-per-view basis. The new rules have been contested by Audiovisual Sport, a society formed by Sogecable (part of the PRISA group), Antena Tres en TV3 Catalonia. Audiovisual Sport owns all the exclusive television broadcasting rights for football matches played in the Spanish national League and has recently sold its rights to the digital television broadcaster Canal Satélite, owned by PRISA and Antena Tres.

The new law also stipulates that there will be a one year period in which all broadcasters will have a fair and reasonable opportunity to negotiate exclusive broadcasting rights with rights' owners. In the case where this provision is not correctly applied, the Television Commission will have the right to intervene and to take a decision in the matter.