Ofcom investigates Virgin and BT complaints over Sky Sports

[Dave42]

Ofcom has opened investigations into separate complaints by Virgin Media and BT against BSkyB, about how it supplies them with its Sky Sports channels.

Virgin Media has complained that Sky is charging on a per-device basis for the HD versions of Sky Sports 1 and 2, while BT has complained that Sky's terms require it to provide information on BT Vision customer numbers.
Virgin, which pays for the Sky Sports standard definition channels on a per-household basis, is understood to prefer paying on a per-household basis for the HD channels. This would be cheaper and allow it to bundle them as well as distribute them to different devices, such as mobile, more easily.
A Virgin Media spokesperson said: "We want a better deal for all TV customers and are pleased Ofcom has decided to take a look into Sky’s HD wholesale pricing."

BT is resisting the requirement by Sky to provide it with information on the total number of pay subscribers and total number of customers for BT Vision.
A BT spokesperson said: "This clause requires us to provide Sky with confidential information about BT Vision. We do not believe this clause is fair, reasonable and non discriminatory, as it is required to be."
In each case Ofcom's investigations will decide whether Sky has breached condition 14A of its Television Licensable Content Service licences.
Sky declined to comment and is to outline its position directly to Ofcom.


http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/News/Most...ts-Sky-Sports/

[Digital Fanatic]

Good to see Ofcom are looking in to it

Also sky are being a little bit harsh on BT, asking for all their subscriber info!

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

Good to see Ofcom are looking in to it

Also sky are being a little bit harsh on BT, asking for all their subscriber info!

yes hopefully they force sky to drop the per box premium HD and make it per household and hope they can force sky to let us have all the HD sports channels too

[pauldavies83]

Maybe while they are moaning to ofcom (with good reason!) they should ask them why they decided to bottle their decisions earlier in the year, and keep HD3/4 out of the must-offer?

And why movies weren't included, as Sky still have a monopolistic grip on first-run pay-TV movies.

I'd be very happy to see an end of the draconian per-device charge. VM obviously don't want to charge it, and it will be a good day for everyone when it's gone. A HD multiroom box on Sky costs £20p/m because of it!

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by pauldavies83

Maybe while they are moaning to ofcom (with good reason!) they should ask them why they decided to bottle their decisions earlier in the year, and keep HD3/4 out of the must-offer?

And why movies weren't included, as Sky still have a monopolistic grip on first-run pay-TV movies.
I'd be very happy to see an end of the draconian per-device charge. VM obviously don't want to charge it, and it will be a good day for everyone when it's gone. A HD multiroom box on Sky costs £20p/m because of it!

Haven't Ofcom refered that to the another regulator?

http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2010/08/04...on-commission/

Ofcom has today asked the Competition Commission to investigate concerns regarding the sale and distribution of subscription premium Pay TV movies.

First-run Hollywood movies are particularly important to competition in the Pay TV sector. This is because they are highly attractive to a large number of consumers, who want subscription access to premium high quality movies as close to their box office release as possible. This content is a key factor for many consumers when signing up to a pay TV service.

Ofcom is concerned in particular that the way in which these movies are sold and distributed creates a situation in which Sky has the incentive and ability to distort competition. The end result for consumers is less choice, less innovation and higher prices.

Ofcom cannot address these concerns fully using its powers and has referred them to the Competition Commission.

[pauldavies83]

Yeah but they took over 3 years to come to the decision just to make the referral!

How long the CC will take over it is anyone's guess.

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by Dave42

yes hopefully they force sky to drop the per box premium HD and make it per household and hope they can force sky to let us have all the HD sports channels too

I would forget about getting all 5 sports channels in HD for now, it dosen't appear to even be on the agenda. Regarding HD charges per STB I assume OFCOM would have to impose such a condition on Sky too who also charge their own customers per box.

[dazed&confused]

LATEST NEWS

OFCOM DECISION

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Coming Soon.......................

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by pauldavies83

Maybe while they are moaning to ofcom (with good reason!) they should ask them why they decided to bottle their decisions earlier in the year, and keep HD3/4 out of the must-offer?

And why movies weren't included, as Sky still have a monopolistic grip on first-run pay-TV movies.

I'd be very happy to see an end of the draconian per-device charge. VM obviously don't want to charge it, and it will be a good day for everyone when it's gone. A HD multiroom box on Sky costs £20p/m because of it!

Well said mate , it's about time Sky was made to split in two Content provider and platform.

---------- Post added at 14:57 ---------- Previous post was at 14:54 ----------

How is it competitive to have one platform only showing Sky Sports 3 and 4 HD ? Baffles me.

---------- Post added at 14:59 ---------- Previous post was at 14:57 ----------

You can see Murdochs evil empire getting the nod to buy the rest of Sky , God listen me rant LOL :-)

[Paranoimia]

Glad to hear this. Whether you're with Virgin or Sky, paying multiple times for the same content in the same household is utterly ridiculous.

I'm surprised they don't charge you double the broadband fee if you use a wireless router to access the internet from two rooms. Err... I better shut up, in case I'm giving them ideas...

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by pauldavies83

Yeah but they took over 3 years to come to the decision just to make the referral!

How long the CC will take over it is anyone's guess.

They have up-to 2 years to investigate, so from now it would be about 1 1/2 years.

The Competition Commission has a maximum of two years to investigate and reach a decision on the concerns raised by Ofcom.

[dazed&confused]

Originally Posted by Paranoimia

Glad to hear this. Whether you're with Virgin or Sky, paying multiple times for the same content in the same household is utterly ridiculous.

I'm surprised they don't charge you double the broadband fee if you use a wireless router to access the internet from two rooms. Err... I better shut up, in case I'm giving them ideas...

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh............

[Builder]

I don't like Sky , especially Murdoch

Originally Posted by Builder

I don't like Sky , especially Murdoch

You are no relation to Vince Cable are you

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by Paranoimia

Glad to hear this. Whether you're with Virgin or Sky, paying multiple times for the same content in the same household is utterly ridiculous.

I'm surprised they don't charge you double the broadband fee if you use a wireless router to access the internet from two rooms. Err... I better shut up, in case I'm giving them ideas...

Agreed mate it's robbery Dick Turpin stuff LOL

---------- Post added at 19:54 ---------- Previous post was at 19:52 ----------

Originally Posted by Builder

I don't like Sky , especially Murdoch

Agreed same here if he has his way we'll all read his papers , watch his TV and News channel , there'll be no BBC and everything we do online will be charged.