UPC gears up for MySports launch after regulator ruling

Swiss telecommunications company UPC will press ahead with plans to launch new sports broadcast platform MySports on September 8 after the Swiss Competition Commission (COMCO) decided against precautionary measures concerning the broadcasting of ice hockey on the new channel.

COMCO in May opened an investigation into the pay-television market for ice hockey in the country, stating there had been “indications” of antitrust violations by UPC. The announcement came after telecommunications group Swisscom in April filed a complaint against rival UPC to the regulator over the latter’s failure to grant access to its exclusive ice hockey rights to all operators.

In July 2016, UPC unveiled plans for a new sports broadcast platform which it said would “breathe new life” into the media market in Switzerland when it launches this summer. MySports was formed following UPC’s rights deal with the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation. The SIHF earlier awarded its media rights for the five seasons from 2017-18 to 2021-22, with UPC and public-service broadcaster SRG SSR clinching contracts.

UPC will be the SIHF’s main partner having secured rights to club competitions National League A and B, Regio League and the Swiss national teams. Swisscom previously held rights through its Teleclub subsidiary and had claimed UPC’s failure to provide it with access to MySports represented an abuse of its dominant market position.

As a result of COMCO’s ruling, UPC today (Wednesday) said that MySports will go on air as planned on September 8 exclusively through the cable network, adding the signal will not be shared with Swisscom. Through 15 distribution partnerships, over three million households throughout Switzerland will have access to MySports from late summer 2017.

“This decision from COMCO does not surprise us and confirms that our path up to here has been the right one,” Eric Tveter, chief executive of UPC, said. “MySports is an important step towards effective competition and will break up the former unfair monopoly regarding sports rights in Switzerland.

“It would have been paradoxical if COMCO had decided in favour of precisely the company that has abused its dominant position on the market for so many years. We are very confident that the outcome of the further investigation will be positive for us.”

UPC yesterday unveiled its pricing strategy for MySports. Along with Swiss ice hockey, the platform will also provide the sport’s Kontinental Hockey League and Swedish SHL, as well as club football from the German Bundesliga and Portuguese Primeira Liga, international handball, beach volleyball, basketball and motor sports.

UPC also said it has struck a content partnership with the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). MySports D / MySports F can be received by all UPC customers at no additional cost. MySports Pro will offer a wide selection of premium channels such as Sky Sport Bundesliga 1, Eurosport 1 and 2 HD and MySports 2 and can be ordered as an additional option for CHF25 (€23/$26) per month.

MySports Day Ticket will be an option available to all digital television customers who want to use MySports Pro for CHF9 per day.