Quote:
Originally Posted by Masque
Remember who owns SKY and the legal team that he will have into bat will be formidable and I think the government will want to ensure it goes his way due to the support his products give them.
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But it's a case referred to the EU high court, so it doesn't matter what the government wants. The EU is notoriously anti-monopoly, and market segregation in the satellite TV market is anti-EU, it goes completely against the four freedoms of the EU's free market, it really is a restriction of services, so I really wouldn't bet on them ruling in favour of Sky. But equally I wouldn't bet on them ruling against Sky, as the implications of eradicating the localisation of TV services is truly massive. It would require every single carriage contract to be rewrote for a start as exclusivity by area would simply not be possible any more.
One thing is for certain though, when the EU high court returns their answers it's going to be a hell of an interesting read.