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Virgin Media has asked broadcast regulator Ofcom to open an investigation into the way that the Premier League sells the TV rights to its live football games.

The cable firm says the auction process is driving up prices for fans and causing "significant consumer harm".

Ofcom said it was "considering" the complaint.

The Premier League said its audio-visual rights had "always been sold in a transparent and open process".

"Regulators have examined our rights packaging and sales process in considerable detail in the past and found both of them to be compliant with UK and European competition law," it added in a statement.

Earlier this year Virgin Media, owned by Liberty Global, said it did not plan to bid in the next auction.

However, Virgin says it is still affected because it has to pay higher prices to buy the sports channels from BSkyB and BT.

Rest at the BBC