Antitrust sting for Tim and Dazn .
The Authority has closed the investigation relating to some clauses of the agreement between the two companies on the broadcasting of Serie A football matches in the three-year period 2021-2024. Based on the revenues deriving from the marketing of television rights for the 2021-2022 season, Tim was fined €760,776.82 , and Dazn (currently the TV rights holder) €7,240,250.84 .
According to the Antitrust " the agreement, which provided for the exclusivity in favor of Tim and the prohibition of partnerships with its competitors in the telecommunications sector , could have harmful effects on the competitive dynamics taking place in the TLC sector in the markets of connectivity and retail sales of pay-TV services'. Tim, as explained in a note, «has marketed a bundle offer that cannot be replicated by its competitors, including the contents of TimVision and Dazn and the connectivity service . Furthermore, it was an offer likely to deprive Tim's competitors, active in the electronic communications markets, of the possibility of associating particularly valuable content with their own connectivity services, such as the rights to watch Serie A matches A for the three-year period 2021-2024, limiting the ability to exercise competitive pressure against Tim itself. Moreover, some clauses were suitable for limiting Dazn's commercial options in relation to the development of audiovisual content offers on other technological platforms".
The effects of the agreement between the two companies lasted about a month, then stopped by the preliminary investigation procedure. Thus all operators (including Sky) were allowed to conclude partnerships with Dazn and offer their subscribers services relating to the Serie A football championship.
(Unioneonline/vf)
