The European Commission has agreed a new competition plan to make more European Champions League games available to the television viewing public.
The rules, to take effect in the 2003-2004 season, are aimed at increasing the number of broadcasters who have access to Champions League games, including small and regional television outlets.
European football's governing body UEFA has abandoned selling rights to only one broadcaster in each country. UEFA now divides the rights for live broadcasts of top games between two different broadcasters. Other broadcasters also will get some rights for live broadcasts of second-tier games.
The new proposal also provides for the sale of wireless, Internet and radio rights.
The Commission also said it hoped to quickly wrap up its examination of a new package for English Premier League television rights.
The Premier League has unveiled a tender for the 2004-7 rights that comprises three separate packages for broadcasters - one each for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Under the current arrangement, the Premier League sold packages of media rights on behalf of member clubs to television companies in Britain and Ireland on an exclusive basis. Under the new rights offer, a total of 138 live matches will be up for grabs, with terrestrial broadcasters in with a shout of securing some of the rights.
