Advanced Television

BT bets on Sky Sports

July 29, 2009

BT Vision CEO Marc Watson expects Sky Sports to be part of its package by next summer. Watson told reporters that Ofcom's announcement last month that BSkyB should cut its wholsale price by almost a third will pave the way for a Sky Sports offering on IPTV platform BT Vision.

Currently the platform doesn't have a dedicated sports channel, following the demise of Setanta earlier this year. Watson said that although BSkyB virulently opposes Ofcom's recommendation, he's confident a deal can be made:

"We're looking forward rather than back in terms of our relationship with Sky," he said. "We have a great deal of respect for it, both in terms of its corporation and its executives, we have very good personal relationships there. I think what we need is a grown-up, commercial relationship with it in which we can sell its products, make it some money and make ourselves some money too."

BT Vision currently provides 40 Freeview channels alongside selected on-demand content, including movies.Its film catelogue was added to today after BT revealed details of a partnership with Sony Pictures Television to bring films including Terminator Salvation, Angels & Demons and Rachel Getting Married to the platform.

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