Consumer Pressure Group Wades In To Virgin/Sky War

Ofcom chief executive, Ed Richards, has received a letter from consumer campaign group, the Consumer Panel, urging the watchdog to step in to solve the spat between Branson’s Virgin Media and Murdoch’s BSkyB.

While in theory the three million Virgin customers who are now without Sky’s flagship channels can switch, the process is too complex and time-consuming for many to resolve themselves, it has been argued.

“We are concerned that there are, right at this moment, consumers who are being disadvantaged and who will find it difficult to use the normal mechanisms available in other market places to get what they want – and are paying for,” wrote the panel’s chair, Colette Bowe, in the letter to Richards.

She urged him to use his influence to facilitate an early resolution of this dispute in the interests of consumers.

“We realise, of course, that this situation arises because of a commercial dispute between two parties,” she continued. “However, this is but the latest of a series of disputes between operators in this sector.

“The panel is now concerned that problems for consumers are developing in this market that are not easy for consumers to resolve themselves directly – and which are therefore generating serious consumer detriment.”

Virgin Media customers have not been able to watch hit shows such as 24 and Lost since Sky pulled its basic channels including Sky One from the cable network at the beginning of this month (see Sky Anytime? Not For Virgin Media Cable Homes).

Virgin has threatened to take Sky to the high court if the two companies fail to strike a deal shortly (see

Virgin Media Threatens Legal Action Over Sky Channel Dispute

Virgin Media Threatens Legal Action Over Sky Channel Dispute

Virgin Media Threatens Legal Action Over Sky Channel Dispute www.ofcom.org.uk Virgin Media: www.virginmedia.com BSkyB: 020 7705 3000 www.sky.com