Calls for Accessible Broadcasting of Football EM in Sweden

Debate intensifies over the accessibility of broadcasting rights for Sweden's football EM matches.

Key Points

  • • Jonas Sjöstedt pushes for free access to major sports events like football EM.
  • • Many households missed key matches due to exclusivity on Viaplay Sport.
  • • The match against Poland had 821,000 viewers, indicating high demand for access.
  • • Magdalena Andersson echoes concerns over difficult sports broadcast accessibility.

Jonas Sjöstedt, a prominent member of Sweden's Left Party, has recently voiced his concern about the accessibility of major sports events, particularly the ongoing football European Championship (EM). His remarks follow an unfortunate scenario in which many Swedish households were unable to view the national team's recent match against Poland, which was broadcast exclusively on Viaplay Sport, a channel not accessible to all citizens. This match garnered 821,000 viewers, underscoring the demand for broader access to such significant events.

"Alla ska kunna se fotbolls-EM (Everyone should be able to watch the football EM)," Sjöstedt stated, advocating for the need for viewers to have fair access to major tournaments. He criticized the current situation and announced plans to push for legislation that would mandate that all major sporting events be available on free-to-air channels, similar to practices in other countries like Belgium and the UK.

Former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has also expressed her dissatisfaction with the accessibility of sports broadcasts, articulating her frustration regarding the challenges in following Swedish matches across various platforms. She highlighted the necessity of a cohesive national effort to keep sports neighborhoods engaged and united in their support for the national team.

Looking ahead, Sweden's next match against Germany is scheduled for 21:00 on Saturday, which, like the previous match, will also be exclusively available on Viaplay Sport, reigniting concerns over the lack of accessible viewing options for fans.