Sky’s Ofcom appeal ruling to be heard this week

UK pay-TV operator BSkyB’s appeal to delay regulator Ofcom’s ruling that it must wholesale its premium sport content to rivals will be heard by the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) on Friday.

According to CAT’s web site, a hearing has been provisionally set for 09:30 on Friday. Last month, Ofcom ruled that Sky must publish a new pricing structure by May 14. Should CAT grant Sky interim relief, it will be able to delay this date as it pursues a full appeal. Sky claims Ofcom’s decision that it must reduce the wholesale price of its two main premium sports channels by 23.4%, from £13.88 (€15.63) to £10.63 per subscriber per month, represents “an unprecedented and unwarranted intervention”.

If Sky is unable secure interim relief, rivals Virgin Media and BT Vision will be able to offer Sky Sports channels before the start of the new UK football season in August.