ITC Recommends Smaller Channel Packages For Pay TV

The ITC today outlined its proposals for remedying what it sees as the anti-competitive practices which are used to “bundle” pay-tv channels.

Following an extensive investigation it concluded that a number of practices restrict and distort viewer choices. It hopes that its proposals will lead to a wider range of basic channel packages of different sizes, prices and compositions being offered to viewers.

Solutions proposed include:

• the prohibition of minimum carriage requirements and those tiering obligations that prevent operators from offering basic channels either a la carte or in small packages.
• permitting buy-through to premium channels from any basic package.
• the bundling of more than one premium channel (excluding bonus channels) only where the channels are also available a la carte.

The ITC now wishes to have views on its proposals before it makes a final decision.

ITC chairman Sir Robin Biggam said: “We are confident our proposals will open up the market and allow retailers to provide viewers with greater freedom of choice.”

The Commission is also giving consideration to the wholesale and retail price structures of premium channels and the bundling of television with telephony.

ITC: 0171 255 3000