Audiovisual Sport Rights

Regarding recent news reports about some Spanish football teams and third
parties reaching agreements to acquire their audiovisual rights for forthcoming
seasons together with Mr. Laporta’s [ENG: FC Barcelona’s Chairman]
statement in a press conference held on June 15th 2006, Sogecable would like
to clarify the following:

1- Sogecable and Televisió de Catalunya are the shareholders of Audiovisual
Sport. Audiovisual Sport has been exploiting the audiovisual rights of Spanish
football since 1997. This is a unique situation in the European Union. Thanks to
this exploitation all league matches (380) are broadcasted (including one game
per week on free television), as well as final rounds of the Spanish Cup (in
which premiere and second division sides play).

2- Audiovisual Sport and Sogecable are committed to maintaining the current
exploitation model of Spanish football. As stated on May 12th 2006, Sogecable
and Audiovisual Sport hold the vast majority of the audiovisual rights of
premiere and second division football clubs for the coming seasons. These
rights include both Real Madrid CF’s and FC Barcelona’s audiovisual rights.

3- With regard to FC Barcelona’s audiovisual rights for 2006/2007 and
2007/2008 seasons, Sogecable would like to state that, very recently, FC
Barcelona has informed Televisió de Catalunya, Telefónica de Contenidos,
Audiovisual Sport and Sogecable about an offer made by Mediapro for the
above mentioned period. By that statement FC Barcelona has asked those
companies to match that offer in order to avoid losing their legitimate rights. All
of this, supposedly, according to the contracts signed between FC Barcelona
and Telefónica de Contenidos.
As well as the formal communication to be duly sent to FC Barcelona,
Sogecable states:

a. There is no doubt that, for the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 seasons, the
audiovisual rights for the Spanish league and Spanish cup are held by
Audiovisual Sport and audiovisual rights for the European championships
are owned by Sogecable.

b. FC Barcelona’s intention to buy back those rights is not compulsory for
Audiovisual Sport or Sogecable. Furthermore, the alleged deal offered by
Mediapro does not fulfil the conditions required and set out in the
contracts signed between FC Barcelona and Telefónica de Contenidos
[ENG: original signer of the contracts].

c. Sogecable’s Legal Department is to analyse in depth the statement sent
by FC Barcelona. In particular, the documents attached to this statement
will be investigated to ascertain whether legal responsibilities would
derive for the entities involved.

4- Both free and pay television markets are highly competitive. Sogecable and
Audiovisual Sport would welcome any economically strong bidder that, without
playing a trading role, would like to share the significant cost that the football
exploitation model means in Spain. This model is beneficial to both clubs and
fans alike.

5- Sogecable and Audiovisual Sport state as well that, in order to preserve their
rights and interests, they will take any actions required to strictly fulfil the
commitments and the contracts signed.

6- Finally, as previously announced, Sogecable has renewed its exclusive rights
to show the Champions League competition for the next three seasons. On top
of that, and thanks to an agreement signed with laSexta, Sogecable is the only
television operator in Spain broadcasting full live matches of Germany World
Cup 2006

see this here
http://www.sogecable.es/media/576668.pdf?e...ba1010090002021

Credit : scyzor_tay