BT complain to Ofcom about supply Sky sports to BT Youview

"UK telecoms regulator Ofcom is to launch an investigation into BSkyB over the supply of its sports channels to rival broadcasters.

It comes after a complaint by BT, which is challenging Sky's dominance of the UK's sports pay-TV market.

The probe will look at the terms on which Sky has offered its sports channels, Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2, to BT's YouView platform. "

Full details below:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22970723

This doesn't surprise me at all - with Youview BT's choosen platform for the future, it was key that they got sky sports on there. Obviously now realising that BT are now a threat to them, Sky must have offered them the channels at a huge cost - knowing that BT couldn't make it work at those costs.

Comments

  • tony le mesmertony le mesmer Posts: 876
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    Hup_73 wrote: »
    "UK telecoms regulator Ofcom is to launch an investigation into BSkyB over the supply of its sports channels to rival broadcasters.

    It comes after a complaint by BT, which is challenging Sky's dominance of the UK's sports pay-TV market.

    The probe will look at the terms on which Sky has offered its sports channels, Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2, to BT's YouView platform. "

    Full details below:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22970723

    This doesn't surprise me at all - with Youview BT's choosen platform for the future, it was key that they got sky sports on there. Obviously now realising that BT are now a threat to them, Sky must have offered them the channels at a huge cost - knowing that BT couldn't make it work at those costs.

    Cost isn't the issue here, it's the fact that Sky is making the supply of Sky Sports to BT (on YouView) conditional on BT making BT Sport available to Sky.
  • derek500derek500 Posts: 24,887
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    Hup_73 wrote: »
    This doesn't surprise me at all - with Youview BT's choosen platform for the future, it was key that they got sky sports on there. Obviously now realising that BT are now a threat to them, Sky must have offered them the channels at a huge cost - knowing that BT couldn't make it work at those costs.

    Of course all six Sky Sports channels are available on TalkTalk's YouView.

    Sky are just saying to BT if you want to act as agent, then let us do the same with your channels.
  • VisionMan1VisionMan1 Posts: 2,111
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    derek500 wrote: »
    Of course all six Sky Sports channels are available on TalkTalk's YouView.

    Sky are just saying to BT if you want to act as agent, then let us do the same with your channels.

    Which BT won't. And why should they? As Sky are the dominant provider, who will use any means, either fair or foul, to maintain that position. As such they need to be, and are, regulated by Ofcom.

    BT are just broadcasting small fry compared to Sky, and they are just trying to establish a foothold in the market. So Ofcom just won't allow Sky to dictate discriminatory terms to different providers.
  • gothergother Posts: 14,654
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    But it's fine for bt to withhold their sports channels from virgin (allegedly)? Hypocrits all three of them are as bad as each other.
  • VisionMan1VisionMan1 Posts: 2,111
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    gother wrote: »
    But it's fine for bt to withhold their sports channels from virgin (allegedly)? Hypocrits all three of them are as bad as each other.

    At first glance the situation would appear to be hypocritical, but it actually isn't. Its about a sport broadcasting giant trying to discriminate against the new, much smaller broadcaster on the block. Ofcom won't allow it.
  • gothergother Posts: 14,654
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    VisionMan1 wrote: »
    At first glance the situation would appear to be hypocritical, but it actually isn't. Its about a sport broadcasting giant trying to discriminate against the new, much smaller broadcaster on the block. Ofcom won't allow it.

    Not the first time Sky have with-held channels tbh look at the Sky Atlantic situation. But really bt shouldn't complain to ofcom if they're allegedly are doing the same thing.
    This is just my opinion though.
  • MJH1962MJH1962 Posts: 184
    Forum Member
    gother wrote: »
    Not the first time Sky have with-held channels tbh look at the Sky Atlantic situation. But really bt shouldn't complain to ofcom if they're allegedly are doing the same thing.
    This is just my opinion though.


    BT has no legal requirement to wholesale its channels, so why should it? On the other hand, Ofcom ruled in 2010 that Sky had to wholesale Sky Sports 1 & 2. This was after it conducted a review of pay tv following Sky's application to launch its own pay channels on DTT. Ofcom approved Sky's application, although it ("Picnic") has never actually been launched.

    As others have said, this is basically down to the dominance that Sky had (and still has) in the pay TV sector and the requirement is a way of allowing competitors to Sky to develop and grow without being crushed by the financial might that Sky has built up.
  • VisionMan1VisionMan1 Posts: 2,111
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    gother wrote: »
    Not the first time Sky have with-held channels tbh look at the Sky Atlantic situation. But really bt shouldn't complain to ofcom if they're allegedly are doing the same thing.
    This is just my opinion though.

    Thats also a valid point of view, too. But the (also valid) point that is being made on all the other sub-threads across the forum is that Sky are a broadcasting giant, in comparison to BT's vastly smaller offerings. Sky want a piece of it. And BT have said no. Which is their right, as the much smaller broadcaster. And Ofcom won't get involved in this. Nor should they either, as they are there to encourage new competition.

    Though I do think both Virgin Media and TT's YouView platform will get it.
  • MJH1962MJH1962 Posts: 184
    Forum Member
    Hup_73 wrote: »
    Sky must have offered them the channels at a huge cost - knowing that BT couldn't make it work at those costs.

    The cost that Sky charges is set by Ofcom, albeit it did win a legal case to get that amount increased. Therefore, the rate charged to BT is the same as for any other provider such as Virgin or Talk Talk.
  • VisionMan1VisionMan1 Posts: 2,111
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    MJH1962 wrote: »
    BT has no legal requirement to wholesale its channels, so why should it? On the other hand, Ofcom ruled in 2010 that Sky had to wholesale Sky Sports 1 & 2. This was after it conducted a review of pay tv following Sky's application to launch its own pay channels on DTT. Ofcom approved Sky's application, although it ("Picnic") has never actually been launched.

    As others have said, this is basically down to the dominance that Sky had (and still has) in the pay TV sector and the requirement is a way of allowing competitors to Sky to develop and grow without being crushed by the financial might that Sky has built up.

    I read your post on the BT Sport TUTV thread. Superb stuff, MJH. :)
  • gothergother Posts: 14,654
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    VisionMan1 wrote: »
    Thats also a valid point of view, too. But the (also valid) point that is being made on all the other sub-threads across the forum is that Sky are a broadcasting giant, in comparison to BT's vastly smaller offerings. Sky want a piece of it. And BT have said no. Which is their right, as the much smaller broadcaster. And Ofcom won't get involved in this. Nor should they either, as they are there to encourage new competition.

    Though I do think both Virgin Media and TT's YouView platform will get it.

    I think there are interesting times ahead me personally i'm not too bothered about sports as i use a vpn so i can simply sub to foxsports etc. One i'm interesting is will BT take Sky on in the movie side of things too. IMHO its about time that Sky faced serious competition.
    I agree with you that bt sports will most likely end up on TT and VM too but i wouldn't be surprised if BT offer a online player too.
  • derek500derek500 Posts: 24,887
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    MJH1962 wrote: »
    The cost that Sky charges is set by Ofcom, albeit it did win a legal case to get that amount increased. Therefore, the rate charged to BT is the same as for any other provider such as Virgin or Talk Talk.

    Ofcom didn't set the rate that TalkTalk and Virgin pay for Sky Sports 1-4, Sky Sports News and Sky F1, so is the SS1-2 price relevant for them, or is it mainly a BT and TUTV issue?
  • VisionMan1VisionMan1 Posts: 2,111
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    gother wrote: »
    I think there are interesting times ahead me personally i'm not too bothered about sports as i use a vpn so i can simply sub to foxsports etc. One i'm interesting is will BT take Sky on in the movie side of things too. IMHO its about time that Sky faced serious competition.
    I agree with you that bt sports will most likely end up on TT and VM too but i wouldn't be surprised if BT offer a online player too.

    Yeah. But BT won't take on Sky on the movie side of things. This is all just about a fight for BB and telephony custom. And sport is the lowest common denominator to get to that custom.

    And they will be offering an online player too -

    http://www.bt.com/sport/3-ways-to-watch-bt-sport.html
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 823
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    Only speculating here, but what is to stop Sky from offering SS1&2 as IP channels on YouView themselves, taking care of billing themselves?

    This would be no different to what BT are doing on the Sky platform and would answer all criticism about 'witholding channels' and would give Sky the chance to pitch its BB, telephony and TV services at BT customers.
  • MJH1962MJH1962 Posts: 184
    Forum Member
    derek500 wrote: »
    Ofcom didn't set the rate that TalkTalk and Virgin pay for Sky Sports 1-4, Sky Sports News and Sky F1, so is the SS1-2 price relevant for them, or is it mainly a BT and TUTV issue?

    Ofcom sets the maximum rate Sky can charge for Sky Sports 1 & 2 on a wholesale basis. BT,Talk Talk and Virgin can agree cheaper deals with Sky if the latter wishes to.
  • MJH1962MJH1962 Posts: 184
    Forum Member
    MostynDS wrote: »
    Only speculating here, but what is to stop Sky from offering SS1&2 as IP channels on YouView themselves, taking care of billing themselves?

    This would be no different to what BT are doing on the Sky platform and would answer all criticism about 'witholding channels' and would give Sky the chance to pitch its BB, telephony and TV services at BT customers.

    Isn't this what they are doing with Now TV?
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 248
    Forum Member
    MJH1962 wrote: »
    Isn't this what they are doing with Now TV?

    Only if you are willing to pay £9.99 a day.
    No other subscription is available.
  • VisionMan1VisionMan1 Posts: 2,111
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    Only if you are willing to pay £9.99 a day.
    No other subscription is available.

    Not on the YouView platform it isn't. Now TV is VoD only atm.
  • psionicpsionic Posts: 20,188
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    I thought it was £15 per month with a free trial and various discount offers available. And only VoD with no live sky channels currently.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 248
    Forum Member
    psionic wrote: »
    I thought it was £15 per month with a free trial and various discount offers available. And only VoD with no live sky channels currently.

    Youview NOWTV is VOD only & only movies

    Roku NOWTV is VOD and live.
    The only monthly sub is Movies and is supposedly £15.99, but nobody has ever been charged more tha £8.99
    Sky Sports is only available at 9.99 a day

    I suspect Sky's primary concern about offering a pay monthly Sky Sports option is the effect it would have on their existing subscriber base.
  • VisionMan1VisionMan1 Posts: 2,111
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    Youview NOWTV is VOD only & only movies

    Roku NOWTV is VOD and live.
    The only monthly sub is Movies and is supposedly £15.99, but nobody has ever been charged more tha £8.99
    Sky Sports is only available at 9.99 a day

    I suspect Sky's primary concern about offering a pay monthly Sky Sports option is the effect it would have on their existing subscriber base.

    They were talking about YouView !

    My ROKU obsessed friend. :rolleyes:
Sign In or Register to comment.