EC opens anti-trust probe for cross-border Pay TV

dublinman1990

This probe by the EC according to this article only began on the 13th of January.

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2014/01/13/euro-investigation-into-pay-tv-services-launched/

The European Commission has opened an antitrust investigation concerning the cross-border provision of pay TV services.

This should be very good news from an Irish Perspective. I feel the EC are right to do this now given that it is the largely unfair level of competition that is surrounding Pay TV in this country.

Although I do also feel that it has also come far far too late to do something about it when we are in 2014. A lot of people have already paid a mint to BSkyB for years as far as I can remember.

It is welcome but I do feel that there is very little justice for current customers of BSkyB.

Sam Russell

dublinman1990 wrote: »

It is welcome but I do feel that there is very little justice for current customers of BSkyB.

If they find that anticompetive activity occured, they can fine the companies involved and could require them compensate the victims. If the result is reduced fees, then that would be good.

I do not understand why people pay Sky for what is basically free. OK, if you need sports, then they have that sown up and the punter has to pay, but the EU could investigate that element - why do people have to pay the basic subscription before they can subscribe to the sports channels?

How is it competition if BT and Sky share the TV rights - not both having all of it, but both having half of it. Consequently anyone wanting full coverage now has to have two subscriptions. That is not competition - it is a carve up.

The EU have got rid of roaming charges so perhaps they will curtail Sky.

Kristopherus

Would'nt it be paradise if Sky were forced to give the option of premium channels seperately. Even if they were to offer the option of customers building their own channel list, give that it is technically possible, might bring some good tidings.

mikeym

The EU already made a balls of it so far by making us pay for Sky Sports and Bt Sport. Its a lot of money if you subscribe to both.

Sky can put up their prices every year and get away with it, no wonder more and more disillusioned customers are turning to legal/illegal ways of getting live sport or movies.

dxhound2005

dublinman1990 wrote: »

This probe by the EC according to this article only began on the 13th of January.

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2014/01/13/euro-investigation-into-pay-tv-services-launched/



This should be very good news from an Irish Perspective. I feel the EC are right to do this now given that it is the largely unfair level of competition that is surrounding Pay TV in this country.

Although I do also feel that it has also come far far too late to do something about it when we are in 2014. A lot of people have already paid a mint to BSkyB for years as far as I can remember.

It is welcome but I do feel that there is very little justice for current customers of BSkyB.

Only good news (possibly) for people wanting to watch American films. Nothing to do with sports coverage. Thats the way I read it.

Wils110

Is that not just about how sky by the exclusive rights to movies so they can't be shown free-to-air by the likes of BBC for a year