UPC Cablecom wants Formula 1 rights
UPC Cablecom wants to attack Swisscom in the sports sector and acquire Formula 1 rights. SRG could also be affected by the battle for exclusive content.
As reported by Schweiz am Sonntag, UPC Cablecom owner Liberty Global wants to enter the race for Formula 1 rights. Liberty Global wants the rights for all UPC companies. In the event of an acquisition, not only the Swiss offshoot UPC Cablecom would be affected, but probably the entire Swiss TV market. UPC Cabelcom could offer the content exclusively and thus make up ground on its major competitor Swisscom TV. Swisscom has been successfully offering exclusive sports content in cooperation with its Teleclub subsidiary for some time.
SRG could be the party suffering from this competition. SRG still holds the Formula 1 rights until 2016 and wants to continue showing "the premium product in sports rights" on free TV in the future. According to spokeswoman Caroline Kalberer, the company is aware of Liberty Global's activities and is following them closely so that it can act if necessary. The partnership with the Formula 1 rights holder, which has existed for 45 years, is trusted.
UPC Cablecom told Schweiz am Sonntag that any rights would also be offered to other interested parties such as SRG, Swisscom or Sunrise. However, the question is on what terms. Firstly, UPC Cablecom is in urgent need of exclusive content, as Swisscom has recently had a clear upper hand in the Swiss television business: in the second quarter, Swisscom gained 39'000 paying new customers, UPC Cablecom only 8900. Secondly, UPC Cablecom is in dispute with Swisscom when it comes to exclusive sports content. CEO Eric Tveter recently described Swisscom's handling of sports rights as "outrageous" and "unheard of" (Werbewoche.ch reported). This refers to the exclusive rights of Swisscom subsidiary Teleclub for football and ice hockey broadcasts. According to Tveter, these were only offered to UPC Cablecom "at unacceptable conditions".
It therefore remains to be seen under what conditions UPC Cablecom would share any rights with the competition. In the end, it could be SRG's free TV viewers who suffer - just under 150'000 per race in the current season. (hae/SaS)
