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Satellite TV News Should Sky insist on WMO sports swap?

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Should Sky insist on WMO sports swap?
Ofcom is asking the industry whether Sky’s insistence that its supply of Sky Sports to rival platforms is reciprocated represents a practice of concern.

It comes as the regulator enters a second phase of its review into the Wholesale Must Offer obligation. Under the current rules Sky is obliged to provide Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 to rival platforms at a rate set by the regulator.

In its response to Ofcom’s initial consultation BT said that following the 2012 Premier League auction Sky only made the two sports channels available on the condition that BT wholesale its own BT Sport on Sky’s satellite platform.

BT had previously made a virtue out of the satellite carriage – using the platform as a means to offer BT Sport to its own broadband subscribers that didn’t take BT TV.

The telco argues accepting such a reciprocal supply arrangement would prejudice fair and effective competition, but Sky considers that it is fair and reasonable for there to be reciprocal supply of key content between itself and its rivals.

Earlier this month, BT’s head of consumer, John Petter, told a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch that current wholesaling arrangements were inadequate, arguing that sports fans don’t just want Sky Sports 1 and 2, but the whole package including Sky Sports 3, 4, 5 and the F1 channel.
 

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