Regulator Says Sports Geo-Blocking Cannot Be Stopped
Published
The UK communications regulator, Ofcom, has said that sports geo-blocking cannot be stopped. Geo-blocking is the practice of restricting access to streamed content based on where a viewer is located. This means a person may be unable to watch a live sports broadcast simply because of their location.
Geo-blocking is common in online media. Broadcasters often sell the rights to show sporting events in different countries to different companies. As a result, a match or race that is available to watch in one country may be blocked in another. Viewers who try to get around these restrictions may find that they cannot watch the content they want.
The statement from Ofcom suggests that the regulator does not believe it is possible to fully prevent this kind of blocking. The issue is important for sports fans who want to watch events online, especially when they travel or live close to a border. Viewers in Ireland who follow sport from abroad may also be affected by rules like these.
The situation shows the challenges of online sport broadcasting in a digital age. Fans want easy access to live events, while rights holders want to control where and how their content is shown. It is not yet clear what changes, if any, will follow from the regulator's comments.
Sources: BBC
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