German watchdog presses for Bundesliga broadcasting rights to be split

By Alexander Hbner and Harro Ten Wolde FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's top football league will not be allowed to sell exclusive rights for live television broadcasts after the country's competition watchdog insisted on a "no single buyer" rule for the imminent Bundesliga rights auction, three sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. While German football fans may have to subscribe to more than one pay-TV service to watch all live broadcasts in future, the rule may yet drive up prices in an auction the Bundesliga' owner, the German Football League (DFL), hopes to conclude early this summer. DFL voiced its opposition to the rule precluding any buyer from securing all the TV rights, one of the sources said, but the cartel office stood firm in an effort to foster competition.
Click here to read full news..