Third party platforms including Top Up TV will be able to distribute the Sky Sports channels without the use of a set-top box following an Ofcom decision.
The regulator has ordered Sky to allow Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 – the two premium channels already included under Wholesale Must Offer (WMO) regulations – to be distributed through a conditional access module (CAM). Reception will be possible both through suitably equipped set-top boxes and IDTVs.
The Nagravision conditional access system is deployed on the UK terrestrial platform and Broadband TV News understands this is the first deployment of CI Plus in the UK market.
It is the second complaint against Sky over terrestrial distribution that has been upheld since Ofcom put forward its WMO in March.
Top Up TV chairman David Chance said it was disappointing that Sky had continued to resist Ofcom’s WMO ruling. “Sky publicly claims to be happy to supply its premium channels to competitors, but unfortunately its behaviour has consistently contradicted this view.” He added, “We hope that Sky will now abide by the ruling and we can get on with offering customers great value sports subscriptions with Freeview channels and simple “plug and play” equipment”.
Top Up TV said it hoped that it would be able to offer Sky Sports 1 and 2 over DTT from January.
CAMs are in common usage in continental Europe, including for the Sky Deutschland DTH satellite platform.
