Video: Industry leaders debate BT vs Sky

Captured at 2013’s Connected Consumer conference, our exclusive video charts the debate between Freesat’s managing director Emma Scott, Decipher’s managing director Nigel Walley and Channel 4’s creative lead, David Amodio, as they discuss whether BT and Sky’s battle for the triple play market is good or bad for consumers.

The aggressive entry of BT into the market with its free broadband deal for BT Sport customers has certainly presented Sky with some serious competition – but is it really a game changer?

“It’s the biggest thing to happen in TV sport for twenty years,” says Amodio. “And it’s brilliant for consumers that like sport.”

However, Freesat’s Emma Scott disagrees, and suggests it is confusing for the average TV punter. “It’s important we look at what all viewers want,” she says. “BT’s move is a great step in the market; the change is good. But the TV market is confusing.”

Only five million homes are actually active football subscribers, Scott says. That leaves an awful lot of homes – 18 million in fact – that don’t have football.

“So what about them? There’s lots of noise, but it doesn’t affect most people…”