BSkyB And BT Probed Over Joint Marketing Campaign
BSkyB and BT are currently under investigation for alleged anti-competitive behaviour over a joint satellite TV and internet marketing push.
Telecomms regulator, Oftel, launched the investigation into a promotion offering discounts to Sky customers subscribing to the BT Broadband service (see BT Teams Up With Sky For Cut Price Broadband Promo), following an official complaint from NTL.
The cable operator claims that a joint package giving existing subscribers to Sky World £80 off the price of the equipment for BT’s Broadband service, puts competitors at a disadvantage and involves “undue discrimination” against BT customers that are not Sky subscribers.
It is understood that a ruling on the investigation, which is being varied out under the Competition Act, will be made in the next few months.
This is the second major Oftel investigation into alleged anti-competitive behaviour by BT. The regulator is currently investigating claims, made by Freeserve, that BT is using its dominant position as a telecomms operator to an gain an unfair advantage in the residential broadband market.
Freeserve has accused BT of pursuing an “orchestrated campaign of anti-competitive behaviour” in an attempt to dominate the market for high-speed internet access and has reported the company’s £10m broadband campaign to Government’s communications regulator (see Freeserve Calls On Oftel To Investigate BT).
Last week BSkyB saw the BBC withdraw its digital stations from the satellite platform because of high-carriage charges. The move will see the Corporation broadcast its eight TV channels unencrypted on digital satellite (see BBC Terminates Sky Carriage Deal).
Oftel: 020 7634 8700 www.oftel.gov.uk
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