[denphone]

Originally Posted by Chad

I think the article I quoted have it wrong. Surely SKY must still have to wholesale SKY Sports 1 and 2.

I still think Virgin are still caught in the middle of the battle between SKY and BT. SKY are holding out from negotiating a new carriage with Virgin, for SKY Sports, until they see what deal BT and Virgin agree for the BT Sports channels. If BT Sports go into the XL package, and SKY can't agree a similar wholesale deal with BT, I can see the following happening:

1. SKY Sports 3 & 4 being withheld from Virgin and BT
2. SKY Sports 1 & 2 HD being withheld from Virgin
3. A sudden hike in the wholesale price for SKY Sports 1 & 2

SKY have already confirmed they do not rely on advertising revenue so SKY Sports 3 & 4 being withheld from Virgin would not be a big loss. Whilst there would be a dip in revenue coming in via Virgin due to witholding channels, SKY could easily make up the shortfall by attracting new customers with half price offers and being able to advertise they are the only platform in the UK to carry all SKY Sports channels and all BT Sports channels.

We've seen SKY making decisions that people didn't think possible, or reasonable, in the past. The SKY basic channels being withdrawn from Virgin for 18 months, SKY Sports News being taken off freeview and put behind a paywall and if you beleive what you read SKY Atlantic being withheld even thought other TV providers are making good offers for the channel. If SKY can't get the deal they want from BT, I think the ramifications for everyone else could be grim.

And if any of the above named happens then Sky will be signing a death warrant in respect of their whole reputation which increasingly to a lot of people is that of a greedy immoral moneygrabbing offshoot reminiscent of Murdoch's nefarious and insidious empire.