Balkan Free Media Initiative calls Premier League to pull out of Telekom deal

Telekom Srbija, Telekom, zgrada Telekoma, logo,
Nova.rs/Dragan Mujan

The Balkan Free Media Initiative on Friday called the Premier League to pull out of the 600 million Euro TV rights deal with the state-controlled Telekom Serbia.

Telekom paid 600 million Euro for six seasons of the English Premier League in what analysts and critics say is an attempt by the Serbian authorities to attract people to Telekom Serbia and away from rivals such as SBB (which airs N1 News and Nova S, both of which are viewed by the authorities as enemies).

The Initiative called the Premier League to Play Fair! and stop the deal for TV rights in seven Balkan countries. “How can the Serbian state afford such a lavish bid when education and healthcare are in poor shape?”