BT Does Not Receive Permission To Show Sky Sports Channels On Its New TV Service

BT will not be able to show Sky Sports channels on its new TV service after broadcasting regulator Ofcom rejected its attempt "to force a wholesale deal before the start of the Premier League season," according to Christopher Williams of the London TELEGRAPH. The decision means subscribers to BT’s YouView packages will not "be able to watch the majority of live televised football for the foreseeable future." BT had applied to Ofcom to "use its interim powers to force a deal before the first matches" on Aug. 17, arguing BSkyB was abusing its dominance of the market to damage a rival. Ofcom has not "rejected the complaint outright," but said Thursday it does not believe BT will be damaged enough to justify emergency action. It said that it "will not make a full decision for months and potentially not until next year" (TELEGRAPH, 8/1).