The TV rights of the Austrian Football League will find a new buyer from the season 2010/11. At the extraordinary General Meeting held on 14 January 2010, at the Marriott Hotel, in Vienna, it was decided to study the selling of Pay-TV rights. A contract with Sky had been originally discussed.
Rapid Wien expressed great concern.
The President of the club, Rudolf Edlinger, did not look like a winner after the meeting. "I think this is a good solution. This is not about winning or losing, that was not a battleground," said the former minister of finance.
Rapid was worried for the lack of offers to buy Pay-TV rights. "It is now off the table. We have come to the believe that the league is only strong together, and then you have to come with a common solution. Now that is possible!"
From the 15 January to 12 February 2010, the League will receive applications for pay and free-to-air TV rights.
After the meeting the President of the League Hans Rinner stated "There are no divisions in the league. It was not possible to have an unanimous decision. The target is approximately 16 million euros per year from pay and free-to-air TV. Of course there is a risk, but you cannot dictate how much will be the value of the offer," said Rinner.
The aim of the new broadcasting rights agreement is "to maximize the presence of TV " said the President of the League. The selling of the new television rights is entirely open to all proposals. There are no preferences over broadcasters, "It would be the wrong time to talk about the different companies."
Pay-TV broadcaster Sky Austria reacted on Thursday 14 Januray 2010. "We took note of the decision of the League. Whether or not Sky will put propose a deal, we will decide in due course".
