April 29 – The Premier League should be available through four television broadcasters by August after BSkyB today reached a legal settlement with the media regulator Ofcom.
The deal means that BT, Top Up TV and Virgin Media can take advantage of Ofcom’s ruling last month that BSkyB must sell them Sky Sports 1 and 2 for a discount of between 10 per cent and 23 per cent.
BSkyB will have to offer the channels for the reduced price from May 14.
However, in a concession to the satellite operator, its three rivals will have to put aside the difference between that rate and the full wholesale price.
This will be kept pending the outcome of BSkyB’s main appeal against Ofcom’s decision, which could take more than a year to resolve.
The deal could lead to lower prices.
BT has said that it intends to offer sports packages at “somewhere in the mid-teens”.
Sports packages on Sky start from £26 a month.
A BSkyB spokesman said: “Any cut in retail prices is at the risk of BT, Virgin and Top Up TV.
“We remain fully focused on our substantive appeal.”
An Ofcom spokesman described the deal as “very good news for consumers.
He said: ”We look forward to the next steps in the process, including the formal appeal where we will defend the decisions we have taken.”
The other parties also expressed satisfaction with the settlement. BT said that it was “delighted” to be able to bring Sky Sports channels to customers in time for the new football season in August.
Virgin Media said that it welcomed the decision.
In a concession to BSkyB, only the three broadcasters named by the Competition Appeals Tribunal will have access to Sky Sports at discounted rates, at least until the appeal is finalised.
Related stories
April 2010: Sky launches official legal action against Ofcom ruling
April 2010: Premier League to challenge Ofcom over Sky ruling
April 2010: Mihir Bose – No regulator will stop the Premier League juggernaut
March 2010: Premier League fear Sky ruling will force top players to leave England