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Business of TV Sport
Sportel Monaco 2011

Deutsche Telekom in talks for F1, golf and football rights

German IPTV operator Deutsche Telekom has had talks with the rights-holders of Formula One motor-racing, European Tour golf, and Serie A football about potential deals, in an apparent broadening of its sports broadcasting ambitions.
Telekom has only ever broadcast domestic football – its only premium television product at the moment is a subscription channel available to its IPTV subscribers dedicated to the top two domestic leagues, the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga.

Bids for Formula One or European Tour golf would represent direct assaults on the leading position in German pay-television of News Corp-owned Sky Deutschland, which is the current holder of the rights for both properties. However, it is not yet clear how aggressively Telekom is prepared to bid. One local expert TV Sports Markets spoke to suggested that Telekom’s interest was being talked up by rights-holders with a vested interest in putting pressure on Sky.

For the full story, see the latest issue of TV Sports Markets.