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Ofcom calls for cheaper sports channels
Media regulator Ofcom has ordered digital satellite broadcaster Sky to slash the wholesale cost of sports channels after a probe into the pay television sector.
Wholesale standard definition versions of Sky Sports 1 and 2 must be sold to other cable operators at a price determined by the regulatory body under new measures announced today (31 March). Sky Sports 1 and 2 will have to be sold at a wholesale price of £10.63 each on a standalone basis - a 23.4 per cent decrease on the current price to cable operators - while service bundles for both channels has been reduced by 10.5 per cent to £17.14.
Other decisions have included awarding conditional approval to Sky and Arquiva's request to provide pay television services on digital terrestrial platforms. An Ofcom spokesperson said: "Premium sport, such as Premier League football matches, will be available to around 10 million Freeview-only homes receiving TV through an aerial, and via other TV platforms.
"Ofcom estimates that, as a result of these decisions, there could be around 1.5 to 2 million additional consumers of premium TV channels by 2015."
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