Extensive response to Ofcom pay TV review

Ofcom has revealed that it has received an “extensive” response to the latest consultation on a wholesale access model for premium content in the pay TV industry.
In an investment briefing held today, Ofcom’s new chief technology officer Steve Unger revealed that all formal responses to the proposal, including one from Sky, are currently being reviewed.

The regulator first initiated its consultation into the pay TV industry back in 2007 after receiving a joint submission from BT, Virgin Media, Setanta and Top Up TV.
In June, it signalled an intention to disrupt Sky’s “market power” by regulating wholesale access to premium content, particularly the Sky Sports and Sky Movies bouquet of channels (both standard and high definition variants).

The proposed model would involve freeing up access to Sky’s subscription video-on-demand movies and premium sports content at significantly reduced prices. For example, the current wholesale price for Sky Sports 1 and 2 of £18.39 per month, per subscriber (based on June figures) would drop by 15% down to £15.69 under Ofcom’s plans.