WHO OWNS THE TELEVISION RIGHTS OF THE GAMES OF THE GREEK PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL: THE GREEK PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CLUBS HIGHER MANAGEMENT APPROACH

Abstract

Television rights in professional football in most European countries has, and still is,
perhaps the most important and vital source of revenue for the professional football clubs. Much
conversation and legislation was made to discuss, agree and regulate the ownership of the clubs’
tv rights. This study examines the opinion of the higher management of the professional soccer
clubs on the ownership of the clubs’ tv rights. According to the results, most of the managers
replied that the tv rights of the home games should belong to the clubs’ league and the country’s
football association owns the rights. Also, they argue that the games gain value as part of the
championship and if the games were carried out as individual events they would not have the
same value. Finally the majority of the managers believe that the tv viewers face the
championship as a single product.