BSkyB and Virgin squabbles continue

BSkyB has again refuted claims by Virgin Media that it will double the price of its basic channels. It has also told the cable operator to shut up and return to the negotiating table.

BSkyB has again refuted claims by Virgin Media that it will double the price of its basic channels. It has also told the cable operator to shut up and return to the negotiating table.

Earlier today (27 February), Virgin Media said Sky had 'blatantly misrepresented its offer' when the details of the carriage deal dispute went public. Sky said in a newspaper article that its offer is a 20% increase on the existing contract or 3p per customer per day - not double as Virgin Media had claimed.

However, a statement from Sky said 'Virgin Media should set aside its rhetoric and return calmly to the negotiating table to reach an agreement for the benefit of its customers'.

The statement added that Sky is making a series of clarifications highlighting its willingness to keep its basic channels on air for Virgin Media customers and refutes Virgin Media's claim that Sky has doubled the minimum guaranteed annual payment.

'Importantly, the minimum guarantees of future revenue which form part of Sky's offer take into account estimates of future subscriber growth provided by Virgin media during negotiations,' it said.

Moreover, Sky is offering Virgin Media substantially more value in the new deal than in the one set to expire, including the option for Virgin Media to carry high-definition and video-on demand service for these channels.'

Sky also underlined the new offer to Virgin media, a new improved offer containing additional channels including Sky Three and Sky Arts.