Ofcom to review Sky’s sports dominance in UK

Ofcom is to review whether BSkyB should have to wholesale its key sports channels to its rivals, in a move that could strengthen the pay-TV operator in its battle with BT.

Sky is deemed to hold a dominant position in the market for premium sports rights, and must offer Sky Sports 1 and 2 at a set price to rivals including Virgin Media and BT Vision, following an Ofcom review completed in 2010. The new review will consider whether such remedies are still appropriate, given sector developments including BT’s own investment in sporting rights.