BT Broadband customers could be charged around £15 a month for Sky Sports 1 - £10 less than its main competitors, under proposed developments of BT's digital TV service, BT Vision.
The broadband, home phone and digital TV company seems set to start a price war with rivals over top digital TV sporting events in a move which could see the cost of watching football and cricket reduced.
Media watchdog Ofcom is expected to publish its decision in March following an investigation into pay TV. Experts believe it could tell Sky it must drop the price it charges rivals for access to premium digital TV channels such as Sky Sports and Sky Movies.
The Ofcom Board is considering an update on the investigation for this week. The expected move could open the way for Virgin Media and BT to pass on the cut and reduce the price its digital TV and broadband customers face for the premium channels.
BT Retail chief executive Gavin Patterson said: "The case is crystal clear - the customer benefits if they get more choice." He told the Sunday Telegraph the current arrangements in which Sky can dominate the TV market are "unfair".
If the Ofcom decision goes in BT's favour, customers may be able to benefit from BT's price structure from the start of the 2010/11 football season.
Sky are strongly opposing the potential Ofcom decision. "We invest almost £1bn a year to create a top-quality sports service," said a Sky spokesman. "It would be perverse to force us to sell it on the cheap to competitors who have shown no appetite to invest in content or support British sport".
BT stokes up prospect of price war with Sky over sports digital TV
By Charlie on January 18, 2010 2:28 PM
