Sky faces competition probe over film rights
The Competition Commission will investigate whether Sky is using a stranglehold on film rights to harm its competitors in the pay-TV market. The communications regulator Ofcom today formally asked for the probe, expressing concerns that because of the way film rights are sold, Sky has "the incentive and ability to distort …
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Waste of taxpayer's money
It was the Dirty Digger that got the Sun to support the Conservatives who are now in government. Sir Humphrey will find ways to skew the results - so it's a waste of time.
OFCOM protecting the consumer again
While this is undoubtedly a good thing for the consumer, I'm guessing that Murdoch will just apply more pressure to his Tory cronies to accelerate their programme for his media dominance.
Wahooo...
...now stop bitching about Canvas. Virgin just whine because their content is shit and blame everyone else.
Simple answer
There's a simple answer to this nonsense: Abolish exclusivity in broadcast rights. Across the board: films, sporting events, everything.
Just because company A paid for the right to broadcast something, shouldn't prevent company B from also broadcasting it, if they can come up with the readies. If company A want exclusivity, they can produce their own programmes and not be obliged to sell them to anyone else.
Oh, but that would create an actual free market, where players would have to compete on their own merits on a level playing field. Cue howls of protest from Big Corporations .....
Communications should be free and transparent
Australia and Canada seemed to have produced media giants only Murdoch is worse than any of them.
Since Murdoch is there, the competition - HBO, Max, etc - should be allowed in to give him a real run for his money and, if necessary, using legislation to balance the field.
HBO isn't the competition in the UK
Sky have bought exclusive access to their catalogue as well.
media giants
"Australia and Canada seemed to have produced media giants only Murdoch is worse than any of them."
Canada has several cable TV companies so if you don't like your current cable company you are free to switch to a different one... Since they play nice with each other and NEVER over lap their service your going to have to move but that should not be a problem right?
Oops :)
Shouldn't have suggested it was the government doing the bashing. Since the election they are probably quite supportive of Sky. The obvious solution here is for them to go ahead and scrap Ofcom then the complaint becomes moot :)
Eh?
Sky do not want Ofcom to interfere, but as soon as the BBC et al try to enter Sky DEMANDS that Ofcom interfere.
You can't have it both ways.
Sky is using a stranglehold on film rights to harm its competitors
In other news... Popes, Catholic, Bears, Woods, you know the rest...
Stranglehold? Monopoly?
How is Sky's movie service a monopoly? There are many ways to rent a movie and Sky's service is just one of them. It's also only available to Sky subscribers who choose to bother with it - and even they have the choice of renting from somewhere else whenever they want.
As for distorting the market - LOL! They have a lousy selection, often broadcast with poor bit rates and are over priced.
The only thing wrong with Sky's service is that it's crap.
I reckon this is just another round of Sky-bashing by the government because they have the cheek and temerity to operate a TV service that makes a healthy profit. Just for once it'd be nice if people in this country could praise a business that is run efficiently and that continues to grow and enhance its product line. But no. They are doing well so of course they have to be taken down a peg.
The Logic Goes as Follows...
1. Sky have the money to get first-run films before other operators
2. Sky's film channels are cheaper with Sky than with Virgin (£16pcm vs £20-30pcm)
3. Consumers that want early access to the latest films are forced to get Sky or pay up to double the price
4. Sky profits increase due to non-free-market forces (step 3)
5. Go to step 1, lather, rinse, repeat.
Ofcom will consider ways to mitigate either step 1, or step 2.
Prices taken from:
http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/tv/sky-movies-channels.html
http://www.sky.com/shop/tv/movies/
Who pays Sky full price?
I subscribe to movies now and again. Will get 6 months at half price, then leave it a few months, then get another offer. Or will switch from Sky to Cable etc
In the past 8 years I've switched to and fro from Sky and Virgin, don't think I've ever paid anything like full price for my packages.
Fancy That!
Virgin Media - the only company with a respectable VOD offering - presses Ofcom to against against Sky's plans for, er, a respectable VOD offering.
I'm sure that serves the consumer very well.
WTF
"The obvious solution here is for them to go ahead and scrap Ofcom then the complaint becomes moot "
What the F ck?
Beyond stupid.
including multiple ways to access Sky Movies.
So you have a choice of Sky, Sky or Sky?
Or maybe Spam, spam, spam, Sky and spam? That's not got much Sky in it.
And...
May well be wrong but didn't the Competition Commission do an excellent job the last time they got involved with Sky programming? Instead of paying one fee to Sky to see all broadcasted Premier League games you now have to subscribe to ESPN at an extra cost. Fantastic result. Consumer choice, righto.
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