Fia To Sell Tv Rights?
Motorsport's governing body could be about to sell off the television rights to Formula One, in order to rid itself of European Union investigators.
The FIA has been accused of anti-competition offences by the EU, following the deal which transferred F1's television rights to Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Administration company. Under the terms of the agreement, the FIA receives a small amount of revenue - determined by a fixed sum rather than a percentage - of the finance generated by the FOA's television coverage.
Motorsport's governing body could be about to sell off the television rights to Formula One, in order to rid itself of European Union investigators.
The FIA has been accused of anti-competition offences by the EU, following the deal which transferred F1's television rights to Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Administration company. Under the terms of the agreement, the FIA receives a small amount of revenue - determined by a fixed sum rather than a percentage - of the finance generated by the FOA's television coverage.
According to the EU, however, the practice may be illegal, and the FIA could now decide that it would be easier to offer the rights for sale by tender, rather than attempt to fight the Commission over the issue.
Ecclestone is still thought likely to control the rights after the sale, however, given his extreme financial resources and experience in dealing with the sport, although it is not expected that an auction will take place for some time.
