An ICC court of arbitration has rejected claims by Mediaset against Sky Italia in the dispute over World Cup coverage.
Mediaset had claimed Sky-It’s purchase of rights to the 2010 Fifa World Cup had breached undertakings signed with the European Commission back in 2003.
The Berlusconi-owned broadcaster had initially asked the court to make the rights available to other broadcasters ahead of the World Cup. Having failed in the bid it then asked for compensation because its DTT pay platform, Mediaset Premium had been unable to include the event as part of its line-up.
The Court of Arbitration’s decision, which may disappoint both Mediaset and Fifa, clarified the Commission decision and said the event was not essential for competitiveness by a TV operator.
