In a speech last week in Brussels, Mario Monti, European Commissioner for Competition Policy, announced a new inquiry into the availability of "premium content" such as music, films and sports coverage for distribution via Internet and 3G networks. He claimed that the Commission has some preliminary hints of "market failure" that may force the EC to intervene in order to ensure rapid development of new broadband media channels.
According to Matt Whip writing in PC Pro, the EC will "investigate claims that big media companies who buy up television rights to big events are blocking out internet and 3G operators... [Monti's] concerns are that traditional TV broadcasters see ...the Internet and mobile networks... as 'a threat to their revenues,' and that content owners are sceptical whether new media channels can deliver the same revenues as traditional ones. Consequently there is a negative view of new media by both content owners and traditional providers that has led to behaviour that restricts access. This includes bundled rights, where a TV broadcaster buys up exclusive rights to content over the Internet and mobile phones as well as terrestrial and satellite channels, as well as simply refusing to supply. Monti said that as well as dealing with such incidents on a case by case basis, the EC would also consider regulation to ensure fair competition on a broader level. It is currently seeking evidence as to the state of the market after which it will decide what action needs to be taken..."