Posted: 16th Aug, 2011 By: MarkJ


BSkyB ( Sky Broadband ) has informed ISPreview.co.uk that they are "
open" to "
compromise" after
NextGenUs Hull, a
Community Interest Company (CIC) that specialises in delivering superfast broadband to the people of
Hull (Yorkshire, UK), complained that they were
unable to demo their new service in the areas shopping centres because of Sky's exclusive contract with the owners (
original news).
Sky informed us that they had a number of national exclusive relationships to be the sole retailer of TV, phone and broadband on shopping centre concourses. The operator doesn't appear to have been aware that a problem existed until we contacted them. Happily Sky recognised that a compromise could be possible because its telephone or broadband services are not currently available in the area.
A Sky Spokesperson told ISPreview.co.uk:
"We have a number of exclusive relationships' in place with owners of shopping centres up and down the country [uk], some of which have malls in the Hull area. Our exclusivity extends to retail units on the main concourses of shopping centres, not the actual main retail stores.
That said, we appreciate that in Hull, where [we] aren’t currently able to offer a broadband service, there is no need for us to have exclusivity for any service other [than] our core Sky TV services, so we’re open to having a conversation with the mall owners to see what compromise might be reached."
Sadly the move, while still welcome, will probably come too late for NextGenUs hull, which is due to make an announcement about their forthcoming plans on
Friday 19th August.
UPDATE 25th August 2011Sky and NextGenUs have now managed to reach an agreement. Happy to have helped and credit to Sky for being flexible.