The European Commission has announced plans to scrap geoblocking, which prevents users in specified territories from accessing certain content online, in a move that could have significant repercussions for the sports media-rights industry.
The decision was reached in principle by the European Union executive on Wednesday.
Geoblocking is commonly used by sports properties that sell digital rights on a market-by-market basis.
European Commission vice-president Andrus Ansip admitted that implementing such a measure would be “an uphill struggle,” with industry pressure likely to be intense.
“Let us do away with all those fences and walls that block us online,” Ansip (pictured) added. “People must be able to freely go across borders online just as they do offline. Innovative businesses must be helped to grow across the EU, not remain locked into their home market.”
Brussels is set to confirm the proposals on May 6.