Ofcom to probe pay-TV market
Updated on 20 March 2007
Ofcom is to launch an investigation into the pay-TV market in the wake of the bitter battle between BSkyB and Virgin Media.
The row saw Sky channels pulled from the Virgin service and the watchdog received a number of complaints, including from the National Consumer Council.
BT, Setanta, Top Up TV and Virgin Media have now asked for a probe to see if competition rules have been broken.
The Office of Communications will now look into competition issues in the pay-TV industry, which includes cable, digital terrestrial television, satellite and TV through broadband, known as TV over DSL.
The regulator said in a statement: "After careful consideration, Ofcom has today announced that it will investigate the pay TV market, including obtaining information from market participants.
"Following this assessment Ofcom will decide whether to make a market reference to the Competition Commission."
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