Vince Cable claims of 'veiled threats' over BSkyB bid
Vince Cable claimed he received 'veiled threats' that he would be 'done over' by newspapers if he did not approve BSkyB bid
Vince Cable facing BSkyB bid questions at Leveson
The Business Secretary is being questioned over his handling of News Corporation's takeover bid for satellite broadcaster BSkyB.
Jeremy Hunt under scrutiny as former aide faces Leveson
The Leveson Inquiry will today examine the communications between BSkyB and Jeremy's Hunt's office regarding the News Corp takeover bid
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Ofcom to investigate BSkyB after BT Sport complaint
The battle for armchair sports fans escalated after the telecoms regulator Ofcom launched an investigation into BSkyB's alleged refusal to share its Sky Sports channels with BT on "fair terms".
Ofcom said it has opened an investigation into Sky's "alleged abuse of a dominant position" regarding the wholesale supply of Sky Sports 1 and 2 - its flagship sports channels.
BT wants to offer Sky Sports via YouView set-top boxes to complement its own newly-launched sport offer.
But BT said Sky will not allow the channels to be broadcast over BT boxes unless it offers its rival wholesale access to its own BT Sport channels in return.
Ofcom said it will "consider whether Sky has abused a dominant position under UK and/or EU competition law".
The regulator added it will decide by next month whether to grant "interim relief" - which could temporarily give BT access to Sky Sports.
BT aiming to 'massively undercut' Sky on sport in pubs
BT Sport plans to tempt pubs from Sky with a sports package which it claims could be 78% cheaper than its rival.
BT is offering pubs and clubs 12 months' subscription for the price of nine, which BT said for many independent pubs works out at £135 per month.
Hotels, golf clubs and betting shops will also be offered sport packages which BT said "massively undercut" its rival.
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How much does it cost to watch football on TV?
Sky Sports
For the 2012/2013 football season, Sky charged customers a minimum of £57.75 per month for its Sky Sports HD channels as part of a TV package, or a minimum of £79.75 per month for a deal that included a phone line and broadband.
ESPN was charged at an additional £10 per month.
Sky included:
- 115 live Premier League fixtures
- 129 live Champions League fixtures
- Sky F1 channel
- Range of other sports
BT Sport
For the 2013/2014 season, two BT Sport channels and ESPN will be offered free to customers who pay for BT broadband.
BT Infinity fibre broadband will cost £30.45 per month (including a £15.45 monthly line rental fee) or £25.45 per month for copper broadband.
Customers not subscribing to BT internet deals can buy the sport channels through satellite services for £15 per month in HD or £12 per month in SD.
- 38 live Premier League matches
- FA Cup, Europa League matches on ESPN
- 69 live rugby Premiership matches
- Range of other sports
BT Sport offers channels free to broadband customers
BT Sport has announced that its new channels will be available at no extra cost to BT broadband customers.
The channels own the rights to 38 live Premier League fixtures as well as FA Cup and Europa League matches on ESPN, women's tennis matches, MotoGP races and UFC fights.
We can now confirm that #BTSport will be FREE to BT broadband customers! http://t.co/8PFpOs2ajY #BTSport
From @BTSport on Twitter:BT chief executive Ian Livingstone said the pricing was aimed at increasing the number of UK households which subscribe to sports channels.
"UK Sports fans have had a rough deal for too long. Many have been priced out of the market but we will change this by giving away BT Sport for free with our broadband," he said.
"Sports fans are the winners today."
BT signs Rio Ferdinand for TV sports coverage
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has signed a three-year deal with BT Sport as the company prepares to launch its new sports TV channel.
BT said Ferdinand would be employed as an "interviewer, programme-maker and football expert."
The new channel will broadcast 38 Premier League fixtures next season as well as top flight games from Italy, France, Brazil and USA.
Ferdinand said: “I am really excited about joining BT Sport. I will be doing a lot more than sitting on a sofa working as a football expert.
"I am going to be able to make programmes for BT Sport, not just about football, but also about other things that I am passionate about."
Jeremy Hunt welcomes Leveson's findings on BSkyB bid
– jeremy hunt, former culture secretaryI welcome the fact the report states that not only was there no evidence of actual bias on my part in the handling of the BSkyB bid but that I put in place robust systems to ensure it would be handled with impartiality.
However, I have always accepted lessons needed to be learned, in particular with respect to the role of special advisers, which is why guidance has since been issued.
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Leveson: Jeremy Hunt acted 'commendably' over BSkyB bid
Lord Justice Leveson has said that the former Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt behaved "commendably" over the BSkyB bid, and places blame on his special adviser Adam Smith.
In his report, he writes: "Mr Hunt immediately put in place robust systems to ensure the remaining stages of the bid would be handled with fairness, impartiality and transparency, all in line with his quasi-judicial obligations."
"In every respect bar one, the bid was commendably handled."
Mr Hunt was accused of getting too close to News Corporation after the company released a series of emails exchanges between its chief lobbyist Frédéric Michel and Jeremy Hunt's office.
Adam Smith later resigned over the issue.
Ofcom critical of ex-BSkyB chairman James Murdoch
Ofcom has ruled that the conduct of BSkyB's former chairman James Murdoch as chief executive of News International repeatedly fell short of the standards expected.
– OfcomWe consider James Murdoch’s conduct, including his failure to initiate action on his own account on a number of occasions, to be both difficult to comprehend and ill-judged.
The TV regulator has, however, concluded Sky was fit and proper to hold its broadcasting licence.
Ofcom: BSkyB is 'fit and proper' to hold a broadcast licence
Ofcom has confirmed BSkyB is a fit and proper holder of its broadcast licences after a review of the firm prompted by the public debate after the News of the World phone hacking allegations.
News Corporation, which is the parent company of the former paper's publisher, owns a 39.1% stake in BSkyB.
The company has welcomed the announcement, stating: "We are committed to high standards of governance and we take our regulatory obligations extremely seriously. As Ofcom acknowledges, our track record of compliance in broadcasting is good."
Vince Cable claims of 'veiled threats' over BSkyB bid
Vince Cable claimed he received 'veiled threats' that he would be 'done over' by newspapers if he did not approve BSkyB bid
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