Private practitioners and a senior European Commission official yesterday debated the impact of the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) ruling in Murphy v Premier League, with some claiming it risked undermining the ability of movie producers and sporting leagues to offer quality content to broadcasters and audiences. Stefano Berra in London.

Ed Richards, chief executive of the UK's media and telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has warned that online video content providers do not provide sufficient competition to challenge the role of established broadcasters. Stefano Berra in London.

For what is thought to be the first time, an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) tribunal has decided a claim arising out of commitments attached to a European Commission antitrust merger decision, in a dispute over Italian broadcasting rights to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Potential joint venture partners Comcast and General Electric say the cable powerhouse's takeover of NBC Universal would be in the best interests of the American public - and would not run foul of antitrust laws.

General Electric has agreed to sell cable television company Comcast a controlling stake in network broadcaster NBC Universal, making official a long-rumoured deal that is expected to trigger an antitrust review in the US.