Greek broadcaster struggles continue

Commercial broadcaster Skai has already said that it wants to pull out of its deal with the Superleague, the top-tier domestic football league. European football’s governing body, Uefa, has also earlier rejected a plea from Greece’s Champions League and Europa League broadcasters to renegotiate their existing contracts. Other rights-holders have also received similar requests.

The economic difficulties have been compounded by the introduction this month of a new 20-per-cent tax on television advertising, part of the austerity measures imposed by the government in response to the crisis.

The value of the television advertising market was already expected to drop by 20 per cent this year, notwithstanding the tax, on top of a 20-per-cent fall last year. One advertising executive said this week: “You could say that this is a disaster for the television industry in Greece”.

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