Quote:
Originally Posted by mersey70
I don't have a view on the content/distribution argument personally, i'm open minded at the moment.
I don't know what your definition of a monopoly service is though, if VM have 4m and Sky have 10m TV customers I cannot see any monopoly personally as don't OFCOM, being dominant and a monopoly are two entirely different things (I accept they can buy up a lot of unregulated content though) and of course there are other players too but I do understand peoples genuine concerns.
Bad news that it has today been reported that YouView may be delayed until next year, Sky and VM will no doubt be pleased though as they can truly offer both real competition.
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Hence the desire for a 'split' of the platform from the content provision. In your example, VM have 4m platform customers and Sky have 10m platform customers and those are reasonable, competitive proportions. But Sky as a content provider also buy up a lot of programming, produce their own programming and corner the market in some sports which they have been known to withhold from other platforms or for which they negotiate anti-competitive deals, hence the Ofcom ruling last year.
So, similar to the way that BT OpenReach must provide unbiased access to the broadband infrastructure for all service providers, BSkyB's content provision and production companies could be made to supply all platforms, including Sky, under equal contract terms.
However, maybe that in itself is anti-competitive.