BT Vision to broadcast Sky Sports

BT Vision is set to introduce Sky Sports on its on-demand platform next year in a bid to bolster its paid-for content.

BT Vision’s chief executive Marc Watson claims both Sky and BT will benefit from the deal, which will allow BT customers to access the full Sky Sports package – a step up from the limited Setanta football package BT previously offered.

The pay-TV platform’s intention to screen Sky Sports follows Ofcom’s recent ruling against Sky, which has forced the Murdoch-owned company to lower the wholesale price of its premium content to make it more accessible to rival broadcasters.

Last month, the media regulator announced plans to introduce a ‘wholesale must-offer’ obligation to address concerns over the restricted distribution of premium sports and film channels operated by BSkyB (see Ofcom forces Sky to share premium channel content).

Ofcom said its proposal “aims to ensure consumers benefit in the short term from an increased choice of supplier and of platform, and in the longer term from enhanced innovation and investment, especially on non-Sky platforms”.

The regulator’s report in to the pay TV market said consumers have a restricted choice of channels and platforms directly as a result of Sky having market power in the wholesale supply of channels containing “top-flight sport”.

At the time, Ofcom said: “This [wholesale must-offer] remedy will enable other TV broadcasters to access and offer these premium channels, thereby promoting choice and innovation.”

However, Sky said it plans to fight Ofcom’s decision, which casts doubt over whether BT will be able to obtain rights to show Sky Sports.

Sky is also thought to be displeased with BT after it complained to Ofcom about competition in the pay-TV market rather than negotiating directly with Sky.