Recommendations » UK

British Sky Broadcasting (LON:BSY) report: Now Virgin Media may offer free Premier League

Contributed by Daniel Stewart & Company

By Daniel Stewart & Co

- Virgin Media is reported to be considering offering Premier League coverage within a bundled broadband package, i.e. for free. The package is expected to be priced at some ?18/month, compared to BT’s ?21.99 and a Sky subscription for ?26.

- Sky currently offers wholesale access to its basic sports package at ?13.40; the possibility exists that Ofcom’s Consultation will force a reduction to as low as ?8.00, which would allow the possibility of absorbing this within the current bundled package price range.

- There is a sense that the TV market is entering a period of accelerated change spurred by a combination of technological and regulatory development; the arrival of 3D viewing (and enabled TV sets) spurred by the success in cinemas of Avatar; the provision of HD as standard at a falling cost (Virgin Media has just announced HDTV provision for free); and the merger of web-based and broadcast content. The latest development is that Google is reported to be working with Intel and Sony to develop Internet-enabled televisions and set top boxes with Logitech developing an ultra-compact keyboard (one more remote to lose in the sofa …); Google TV would be based on its Android platform. For now the focus is on Ofcom’s decision, scheduled by the end of the month.