Ofcom has given the clearest indication yet of the linkage between the pay-TV market review and the Sky-National Grid Wireless proposals for the Picnic pay-TV offer that would use capacity on the DTT network. In the process delaying any final launch date for the service.
The regulator today published the non-confidential responses to its market investigation following the receipt of a number of late responses.
“In the consultation Ofcom recognised that there are issues raised by the Sky/NGW proposal that will inform the market investigation and vice versa. Engagement with stakeholders has confirmed that the issues regarding the Sky/NGW proposal, such as access to premium content, need to be considered alongside the wider market investigation,” said the regulator’s statement.
Sky originally put its proposals forward in October 2007, and with a further consultation documents scheduled to be published later in the summer, a resolution still appears some way off. Sky today told Broadband TV News that it would continue to work with Ofcom as the process moved forward, though the broadcaster has previously been critical of the regulator’s interpretation of the market. Sky says that the pay-TV and free-TV sectors should not be treated separately as in its opinion they compete virgorusly with each other.
