Bell Media is saying little about a report that Canada’s broadcast regulator has dropped its case against Bell Mobility’s exclusive content deal with the National Football League.
Bell spokeswoman Jacqueline Michelis said in an e-mail on Thursday that Bell is “happy with the CRTC’s decision on the matter.”
But she wouldn’t outright confirm a report in The Globe and Mail that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has dropped the matter.
In December the CRTC ruled that Bell gave itself a significant competitive advantage by signing deals with both the NFL and the National Hockey League to offer games with its smartphone customers.
The decision followed a complaint from Telus Communications last January after it failed to secure the rights, first from the two sports leagues and later from Bell.
Telus argued that the exclusivity of Bell’s deal had a negative impact on Telus’s ability to compete in both the broadcasting distribution and wireless markets.
Bell had indicated in December it had renegotiated the deal with the NHL and was willing to share its content at the right price.
The Globe reported in a story on its website that the NFL indicated it was unwilling to agree to a similar renegotiation.
