Ofcom UK Refuse BT Call for Interim Measures to Secure Sky Sports TV

Ofcom has refused to apply “interim measures” that could have forced BSkyB to provide its Sky Sports 1 and 2 TV channels to BT’s YouView (IPTV) based platform on “fair terms“. Meanwhile the investigation into BT’s initial competition complaint against Sky will continue.

The situation stems from a competition complaint lodged by BT on 24th May 2013 (full details), which simply claimed that Sky had made the supply of its key sports channels conditional upon BT offering wholesale access of their own BTSport content to Sky’s retail and satellite platform.

BT felt this was unfair because TalkTalk’s similar YouView platform could access Sky Sports on “fair terms“, although admittedly TalkTalk doesn’t have any sport content of its own like BTSport. The operator had hoped to secure a temporary solution through Ofcom before yesterday’s BTSport launch (here), which is being offered for free to BT Broadband subscribers, but Ofcom rejected that request.

Ofcoms Statement

On 31 July 2013, Ofcom refused BT’s application for interim measures.

We are continuing with our investigation of BT’s Complaint. In the initial phase of the investigation in Summer 2013, we expect to gather further information using our powers under the Competition Act 1998, and to analyse this information. We expect this initial analysis to inform consideration of whether and how to proceed further with the investigation, during Autumn/Winter 2013. We would aim to provide an updated indicative timetable when we have concluded the initial phase described here.

Meanwhile Sky TV customers (those that don’t take BT Broadband) can get BTSport but you have to pay £12 a month to receive it via Sky’s platform or £15 if you want the HD quality channels.