Digital TV News

BT will slash price of Sky Sports, pending Ofcom decision

Monday 18 January, 2010

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

A price-war is set to break out in March if telecoms regulator Ofcom forces Sky to cut the cost of its subscription sports channels to rival broadcasters.

Telecommunications giant BT has backed an Ofcom inquiry into price Sky charges other digital TV providers to access its premium Sky Sports and Sky Movies channels.

Gavin Patterson, chief executive of BT Retail, said in an interview with The Telegraph: “The move, which comes after three years of campaigning, will be great news for consumers because it will open up the market to competition and force down prices.”

Ofcom has said that the price of Sky’s premium content could fall to between £14.55 and £18.55 a month. It is expected to publish its decision in March, following the investigation into pay TV.

BT’s TV service, BT Vision, doesn’t currently offer customers the Sky Sports 1 channel, but does offer a Sports Value Pack, which gives subscribers 242 Premier League matches from the 2009/10 season, shown after the live match has finished.

Jon Ingram, operations director at Digitalchoices.co.uk, said: “If Ofcom forces Sky to offer its premium channels for less, it would be great news for armchair footy, cricket and rugby fans. And it could spark a price war between rival digital TV providers - meaning bigger savings for subscription TV households.”

The move could open the way for BT, cable giant Virgin Media and recently rebranded TalkTalk TV to pass on the price cut and slash the prices they charge customers to watch the premium channels.