Sky ordered to slash subscription prices
 

I'll believe it when i see it...

Sky has been ordered to reduce the cost of its sports and film
packages for rivals by media regulator Ofcom.

The watchdog wants the satellite broadcaster to sell its premium
output at more competitive rates, in a move that could spark a pay-TV
price war. It could also lead to blockbuster films and Premier League
football matches being broadcast on a range of platforms, including
digital terrestrial services such as Freeview.

In December last year, rival broadcasters Setanta, Virgin Media TV, BT
Vision and Top Up TV complained to Ofcom that Sky had an unhealthy
dominance in the UK pay-TV market. The regulator has agreed that Sky
was distorting the market. It said the broadcaster was likely to limit
the distribution of premium sports and films to its rivals, because of
a 'desire to limit the ability of other retailers to compete
properly'.

It also suggested Sky had been able to set wholesale prices to rivals
'above a competitive level'.

Ofcom is now launching a consultation about whether to regulate the
prices set by BskyB for content on its Sky channels. It warned it
would use the Communications Act to ensure that the satellite
broadcaster met its requirements.

A senior source said: 'Consumers will benefit hugely if Sky is forced
to sell its output to rivals at more competitive prices. What it will
mean is that a larger number of service providers will be able to
offer the same content, which will almost certainly bring down prices.
It also means that audiences have a wider choice of what technology
they use to watch premium sport and film.'

In its consultation document, Ofcom stated that content is the main
factor influencing consumers in their choice of pay TV subscriber. In
particular, access to live sporting events and premiere screenings of
blockbuster films proved the biggest draws.

The problem for other broadcasters is that BskyB currently owns almost
all the rights for film output. Sky also owns the rights to more than
two-thirds of premier league matches.

BSkyB, which now has close to nine million subscribers, said it had
already made its content available on rival platform Virgin Media. It
is also developing its own service, Picnic, which will allow viewers
to watch its premium content on digital terrestrial TV via an aerial.

Sky ordered to slash subscription prices
 

Ed wrote:


BSkyB, which now has close to nine million subscribers

Well considering they been going for nearly 20 years, that's not very
many, I bet evil old Murdoch thought that he would have everyone signed
up by now!

Notice BSB viewing figures compared to income from subscriptions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Sky_Broadcasting

Sky ordered to slash subscription prices
 

jon wrote:
Well considering they been going for nearly 20 years, that's not very
many, I bet evil old Murdoch thought that he would have everyone
signed up by now!

That's presumably 9 million households though, rather than 9 million people?
A quick Google search shows that there are about 25 million houses in the
UK, so that's 1 in 3 -- not too bad! (Though I accept that this is a vast
simplification and probably not hugely accurate)

--

(O)enone

Sky ordered to slash subscription prices
 

In article
, Ed
writes
I'll believe it when i see it...

Sky has been ordered to reduce the cost of its sports and film
packages for rivals by media regulator Ofcom.

The watchdog wants the satellite broadcaster to sell its premium
output at more competitive rates, in a move that could spark a pay-TV
price war. It could also lead to blockbuster films and Premier League
football matches being broadcast on a range of platforms, including
digital terrestrial services such as Freeview.

In December last year, rival broadcasters Setanta, Virgin Media TV, BT
Vision and Top Up TV complained to Ofcom that Sky had an unhealthy
dominance in the UK pay-TV market. The regulator has agreed that Sky
was distorting the market. It said the broadcaster was likely to limit
the distribution of premium sports and films to its rivals, because of
a 'desire to limit the ability of other retailers to compete
properly'.

Maybe they can also have a word with Setanta about the prices they
charge, as the Prem games that they now show as part of their £13 per
month, crap picture quality sub, used to cost £50 for the whole season
(in HD too).
--
Sean Black

Sky ordered to slash subscription prices
 

On Oct 1, 1:37*pm, Sean Black wrote:
In article
, Ed
writes



I'll believe it when i see it...

Sky has been ordered to reduce the cost of its sports and film
packages for rivals by media regulator Ofcom.

The watchdog wants the satellite broadcaster to sell its premium
output at more competitive rates, in a move that could spark a pay-TV
price war. It could also lead to blockbuster films and Premier League
football matches being broadcast on a range of platforms, including
digital terrestrial services such as Freeview.

In December last year, rival broadcasters Setanta, Virgin Media TV, BT
Vision and Top Up TV complained to Ofcom that Sky had an unhealthy
dominance in the UK pay-TV market. The regulator has agreed that Sky
was distorting the market. It said the broadcaster was likely to limit
the distribution of premium sports and films to its rivals, because of
a 'desire to limit the ability of other retailers to compete
properly'.

Maybe they can also have a word with Setanta about the prices they
charge, as the Prem games that they now show as part of their £13 per
month, crap picture quality sub, used to cost £50 for the whole season
(in HD too).
--
Sean Black- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Did anyone really believe that allowing BT and sultana to get some
rights would do anything other than force people to pay twice or even
thrice for the same content?

OFCOM is about as useful as a cardboard teapot

Sky ordered to slash subscription prices
 

In article
, Ed
writes
On Oct 1, 1:37*pm, Sean Black wrote:
In article
, Ed
writes



I'll believe it when i see it...

Sky has been ordered to reduce the cost of its sports and film
packages for rivals by media regulator Ofcom.

The watchdog wants the satellite broadcaster to sell its premium
output at more competitive rates, in a move that could spark a pay-TV
price war. It could also lead to blockbuster films and Premier League
football matches being broadcast on a range of platforms, including
digital terrestrial services such as Freeview.

In December last year, rival broadcasters Setanta, Virgin Media TV, BT
Vision and Top Up TV complained to Ofcom that Sky had an unhealthy
dominance in the UK pay-TV market. The regulator has agreed that Sky
was distorting the market. It said the broadcaster was likely to limit
the distribution of premium sports and films to its rivals, because of
a 'desire to limit the ability of other retailers to compete
properly'.

Maybe they can also have a word with Setanta about the prices they
charge, as the Prem games that they now show as part of their £13 per
month, crap picture quality sub, used to cost £50 for the whole season
(in HD too).
--
Sean Black- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Did anyone really believe that allowing BT and sultana to get some
rights would do anything other than force people to pay twice or even
thrice for the same content?

The idiots in the EU must have, presumably. As it was their stupid idea
in the first place.
--
Sean Black

Sky ordered to slash subscription prices
 

On Oct 1, 3:27*pm, Sean Black wrote:
In article
, Ed
writes



On Oct 1, 1:37*pm, Sean Black wrote:
In article
, Ed
writes

I'll believe it when i see it...

Sky has been ordered to reduce the cost of its sports and film
packages for rivals by media regulator Ofcom.

The watchdog wants the satellite broadcaster to sell its premium
output at more competitive rates, in a move that could spark a pay-TV
price war. It could also lead to blockbuster films and Premier League
football matches being broadcast on a range of platforms, including
digital terrestrial services such as Freeview.

In December last year, rival broadcasters Setanta, Virgin Media TV, BT
Vision and Top Up TV complained to Ofcom that Sky had an unhealthy
dominance in the UK pay-TV market. The regulator has agreed that Sky
was distorting the market. It said the broadcaster was likely to limit
the distribution of premium sports and films to its rivals, because of
a 'desire to limit the ability of other retailers to compete
properly'.

Maybe they can also have a word with Setanta about the prices they
charge, as the Prem games that they now show as part of their £13 per
month, crap picture quality sub, used to cost £50 for the whole season
(in HD too).
--
Sean Black- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Did anyone really believe that allowing BT and sultana to get some
rights would do anything other than force people to pay twice or even
thrice for the same content?

The idiots in the EU must have, presumably. As it was their stupid idea
in the first place.
--
Sean Black- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Your first five words give the game away, unfortunately.

Sky ordered to slash subscription prices
 

jon wrote:
Ed wrote:


BSkyB, which now has close to nine million subscribers

Well considering they been going for nearly 20 years, that's not very
many

Eh?

That's going to be something covering close to half the population - pretty
good considering that there is cable, Freesat and Freeview as competition.

Sky ordered to slash subscription prices
 

On Wed, 1 Oct 2008 02:29:14 -0700 (PDT), Ed
wrote:

I'll believe it when i see it...

Sky has been ordered to reduce the cost of its sports and film
packages for rivals by media regulator Ofcom.

Ofcom? LOL! Toothless and useless.

Sky ordered to slash subscription prices
 

In uk.media.tv.sky Ed wrote:

: Sky has been ordered to reduce the cost of its sports and film
: packages for rivals by media regulator Ofcom.

This is a misleading post with a very misleading title! It implies that OFCOM
have made up their mind - when they are still consulting!