Broadcast Rights and Competitive Balance in European Soccer

Thomas Peeters

International Journal of Sport Finance, 2011, vol. 6, issue 1, 23-39

Abstract: Monopolization of broadcast rights for collective sales is a widespread practice in sports leagues. Proponents of this system claim that it is a necessary tool for the maintenance of competitive balance (tension) in sports. In this empirical paper, I argue that, in European soccer, collective sales do not increase competitive balance as compared to individual sales. Further, I demonstrate the negative effect of the UEFA Champions League and the beneficial effect of a more equal distribution of drawing power and a larger domestic market size on competitive balance. These results shed new light on antitrust policies towards the sports industry.

Keywords: competitive balance; broadcast rights; antitrust policy; soccer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L83 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Working Paper: Broadcasting rights and competitive balance in European soccer (2009)
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International Journal of Sport Finance is currently edited by Arne Feddersen, Babatunde Buraimo, Joachim Prinz and Jane Ruseski

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