The obsession with the beautiful game "is the chosen battleground for the anticipated convergence of fixed line, mobile, internet and TV, and it is driving the telecoms analysts into a frenzy of speculation, perming any two from BT, Sky, Vodafone, EE and O2," according to Neil Collins of the FINANCIAL TIMES. It "has propelled the whole sector on to giddy ratings, despite dismal growth prospects." It seems every mobile company wants to get into fixed, while BT "is convinced it must get back into mobile." The trend toward offering both "is much further advanced in some of the operators’ continental European markets." However, "it is far from clear that the putative megadeals would benefit anyone other than the usual suspects in the investment banks." It "may be fanciful to imagine the telecom companies being punished for mis-selling." However Ofcom, the industry regulator, "is already looking at the giddy price British viewers pay for football, and the complexity of teaser deals has served to disguise just how expensive our internet hobby really is." Should "the orgy of mergers in anticipation of fourplay actually happen, the providers might be forced into clear, honest pricing." Alternatively, as Nomura puts it, “Consolidated markets should drive more disciplined pricing for the medium term.” In other words, we might be forced to pay up and accept “free” wall-to-wall footy "whether we like it or not" (
FT, 12/5).
