European Court of Justice set to rule on UK sports broadcasting license rights
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) is expected to rule on how broadcasters buy the rights to sports across Europe later today.
The ruling of the case, which began with a Portsmouth pub-owner claiming that they were unable to afford the rising price of Sky Sports, and turned to cheaper alternative foreign channels which also broadcast British football, could see a change in the way that TV sports rights are sold across Europe.
As a result of the rising cost of Sky Sports subscriptions within pubs, more and more have turned to using foreign subscription cards in the UK, placing them in breach of UK copyright law, as they are not allowed to screen football other than through an authorised broadcaster.
This has been challenged by pub owner Karen Murphy, who has taken her appeal to the ECJ, with the case developing into an issue of sports licensing rights and sales to broadcasters across Europe.
It is thought that should Murphy win the appeal, it could open up the market for European sports broadcasters to move into the UK marketplace.
Meanwhile, around 100 pubs are facing prosecution from a company acting on behalf of the Premier League for showing foreign satellite football.