Alongside the fun and games of the next stage of the UK’s third-generation cellular licence auction, next week also sees an even longer bidding and negotiation process commence for the rights to show English Premier League soccer for the three seasons 2001-2004. If all the reported interest materialises then there could be half a dozen groups bidding for a share of English soccer, taking the overall rights value possibly to more than pounds3 billion, according to weekend reports.

One recent report says the League will create a soccer structure divided into days of the week with broadcasters bidding for ‘day rights’ to show some games on a day pattern rather than the current ‘one winner takes all’ arrangement. Another report talks of 18 sets of sub-rights for soccer. It is also know that cable is keen to exploit its own regional strengths in a separate set of arrangements.

Additionally BSkyB has written to the ITC and the UK government, arguing that analogue broadcast frequencies, which when switched off may be allocated to ONdigital, should instead be auctioned off to the highest bidder. The BSkyB letter reportedly urges that consideration be given to alternative ways to enhance digital television coverage. BSkyB says that the cellular auction process shows how valuable such frequencies are.

ONdigital, co-owned by Granada and Carlton Communications, would not find a competitive auction attractive. It would be expensive to fund, and ONdigital would feel its 25 year licence rights entitles it to a solo position in delivering terrestrial entertainment.

Premiership contract highlights

• No Saturday afternoon games will be televised live
• 40 games will be shown on PPV basis, probably on Sunday afternoons
• 66 first-tier matches shown live on Sundays and Mondays
• Two highlights packages for free-to-air TV
• Web rights to be considered
• Clubs can get delayed TV rights, eg: showing Saturday matches after midnight on Sunday