Geo-blocking of sports AV content: still crucial for consumers and sport in Europe

Commissioned by the Sports Rights Owners Coalition (SROC), this independent study contributes to the European Commission’s ongoing evaluation of the Geo-blocking Regulation. It updates the evidence base in O&O’s previous report, considering developments in the demand and supply of sports content.

Drawing on data and economic analysis and O&O’s extensive experience of the European audiovisual and sports sectors, we find that the status quo maximises consumer welfare, enabling a large proportion of consumers to afford access to sport, whilst ensuring sports and broadcasters have adequate funding to provide the high-quality content that audiences enjoy, as well as delivering wider economic and social benefits.

We show how the fundamental reasons for excluding sports content and audiovisual services from the Geo-blocking Regulation are as strong as ever, if not stronger:

• A ban on geo-blocking could leave around 95 million people paying more or losing access to sport on television

• And all sports consumers could face less choice and greater fragmentation, and loss of local pundits and local language commentary

• European broadcasters and VOD services could lose vital content to serve their audiences, affecting the overall health of the European audiovisual sector

• Smaller European countries would be disproportionately affected 

• Sports would lose income, audience reach and associated revenues, which would undermine innovation and investment, and plurality in European sports. This would in turn lead to more consumer harm 

These outcomes would conflict with the European Commission’s policy objectives and undermine the principles of the European Sport Policy model, including solidarity, the role of sport in national identity, and sport’s social and educational value.

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