Norway’s competition authority, the Konkurransetilsynet, has approved commercial and pay-television broadcaster TV2’s deal to take over pay-television broadcaster C More’s sports operation in the country.
The deal was first announced in February, with TV2 viewing C More as a strategic purchase to enable it to bundle together premium sport. Under the deal, TV2 will acquire 12 C More pay-television channels in Norway.
Acquiring C More’s Norwegian operation means TV2 will take over the broadcaster’s sport portfolio, which includes the top domestic football league, the Tippeliga, as well as Uefa Europa League, Italian Serie A and Spanish Liga football.
The Kampanje.com website said regulatory approval has come in time for the start of the next sales process for pay-television rights to the Tippeliga, which is expected to begin before April 6. Gjermund Nese, head of the marketing, finance and communications department at Konkurransetilsynet, has rejected claims that the deal will impact competition in the Norwegian football media market.
“We see that what is central in this market are football rights, but we have concluded that there is no reason to worry that competition will be significantly limited as a result of this acquisition,” he told Kampanje.
“Some of (the rights) remain open on free television. Meanwhile, we will continue to focus on the sale of football rights and will be concerned that the federation facilitates that several of the players have the opportunity to bid on these rights when they are offered for sale.”