EU fails to break BSkyB control

EUROPEAN UNION antitrust regulators admitted that they failed to break British Sky Broadcasting Group plc's hold on British soccer broadcasting rights and said they will continue to try and limit the company's control from 2007.

BSkyB, which yesterday reported a sixfold gain in third-quarter profit, said it won't sell the right to broadcast six to eight live Premier League soccer matches in the Britain because none of the bids reached the price per match agreed upon with the European Commission.

Commission regulators ordered BSkyB in December to offer the matches for the three seasons to 2007 to other broadcasters to resolve its antitrust probe into the €1.5 billion contract between the Premier League and BSkyB.