@LesC wrote:
It was my understanding that Sky charge other providers the same amount for their channels? If so why are BT charging £33.50 for one channel whereas TT can provide 8 channels for less?
I used to pay £27 for two SS channels, ie £13.50 per channel, so an increase form £13.50 to £33.50 per channel, a 248% increase.
No excuse or explanation from BT, oh no, they try to make out it's an improvement!
Sky charge a set amount across the board, even though the WMO has expired they stay within it to avoid further intervention. It's still up to the provider what they charge their own customers though. BT can't offer the full suite of Sky Sports channels because Sky don't let them have access to them. BT are only carrying Sky Sports Main Event (and Extra) because Sky have to let them have access to it, as a requirement of the WMO - mainly because it shows live Premier League matches, which is seen as the number one driver of sports subs.
BT were previously selling Sky Sports 1 & 2 at a loss but they have now taken the step to increase the cost... this, as alluded to previously, is because I really feel that they (BT) have grown confident in their own product. I'm not saying BT Sport is any worse or better than Sky Sports - they both have better bits than each other and so on - but I do think they're not concerned as much as they once were due to securing Premier League rights for a second time around and the further renewal of UEFA matches.
I don't think they will be dropping Sky Sports from their line-up at any point though because that would raise some serious eyebrows at Ofcom because of the large scale complaint from BT previously.
