Mobile
- Notice
ANGA criticises Sky’s cable strategy
Jörn Krieger ©RapidTVNews | 01-07-2009
The association of German cable operators, ANGA, has criticised pay-TV operator Premiere’s decision to offer its soccer Bundesliga coverage on cable networks only in connection with basic package Sky Welt from its relaunch as Sky on July 4 and not as a stand-alone product.ANGA claims that Sky Welt contains numerous TV channels which are already included in the basic packages offered by cable operators. Cable customers will have to pay up to €17 per month more for Bundesliga access than previously, when the coverage was available as a stand-alone offer.
“Sky is repeating Premiere’s mistakes if cable customers are scared off by high prices and an incomprehensible package policy,” ANGA’s managing director Ralf Heublein criticised in Berlin. “Sky is using its Bundesliga monopoly on cable networks to force viewers into subscribing to channels which they already receive from their cable operators or could receive from them for less expense.”
Heublein believes that this “counterproductive strategy” damages the cable industry and competition, ultimately pushing subscribers to competing platforms.
© Rapid TV News 2009
