How many times have you stopped and wondered why we sometimes just accept a situation even if we do not agree with it. I am referring to the ridiculous situation that has been played out with the purchase of football rights. Each season, every tournament brings a new reality for the football fan. Will it be the GO box or the Melita Cable box, or will we be lucky and TVM will show the matches?
The truth is that it is completely out of our hands. As the consumer we are able to make a choice. Choice is at the centre of being a consumer. We make a choice according to what we feel is a priority – cost, service, quality. In this case the choice is dependent on one thing and one thing alone – which provider is showing the most football?
Therefore, in reality football is preventing us from choosing our preferred service provider. It is either this or the even more ridiculous option of subscribing to two providers in order to follow your favourite sport and preferred football team. In monetary terms this translates to over €50 per month. In practical terms it means two boxes, two remote controls and finally two subscriptions and more hassle.
As a Member of Parliament who is also heavily involved in the sporting world, I have always felt strongly about these issues. To me, sport is to be enjoyed by all and although TV rights are here to stay, they should not be a restrictive factor. On the contrary, sports TV revolutionised sport, bringing it to everyone on their TV screens in their own living room. How ironic is it therefore that because our law has its imperfections, the freedom TV has given us is being taken away?
Recognising this fact and also having spoken to many who are unhappy with the current
scenario, I have initiated a campaign appropriately entitled Let us Watch Football. The aim of this campaign is to change the way things are being done. The UK has done it and we should too. By ruling that all exclusive sports rights have to be made available to other providers, the British Communi-cations Authority has protected the consumer and his or her right to choose.
The Parliamentary Social Affairs Committee has already been informed and will begin to discuss the issue shortly. We will meet with the stakeholders and compile a report to Parliament suggesting a way forward. In the meantime I will be looking for a debate on the subject.
This week marks the start of the first World Cup on the African continent. Thanks to a deal struck by PBS, the Maltese can watch three-quarters of the games free of charge on TVM; the rest have been sold to another provider. We hope that after the World Cup
celebrations are over, we can cele-brate the success of our favourite team on TV using our preferred service provider. The consumer is at the heart of the issue and should always reign supreme.
Mr Agius is the government Parliamentary Whip
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