Notice
  • Please enter your DISQUS subdomain in order to use the 'DISQUS Comments for Joomla!' plugin. If you don't have a DISQUS account, register for one here

Mediaset hits Sky Italia with antitrust claim

Chris Forrester ©RapidTVNews | 18-11-2009

Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset TV market has filed an official complaint with Italy's media authorities over Sky Italy's new USB key.

The USB key is designed to help Italy's progress towards digital TV. Mediaset's action alleges that it allows Sky Italia views to view digital terrestrial TV without buying a new set-top box.

"The distribution by Sky of this key breaches (European) community and national rules on competition," Mediaset said in a statement late on Tuesday. Mediaset added that the USB key aims to slow the sale of devices that allow viewers to access pay programmes and services offered by other operators.

Sky Italia CEO Tom Mockridge said in a statement that the key would help the digitalisation of Italy by offering a "service for consumers in a market in swift development. A development that, evidently, is not easy to accept for a group like Mediaset that for many years has been, and still is today, the main private subject operating in Italian commercial television and dominant in the advertising market."

© Rapid TV News 2009

Mediaset-Sky Italia-USB-NDS-News Corp

Add comment

You are free to comment on any story.
Your comment is subject to moderation by the editorial staff.
Inclusion of promotional links to 3rd parties is strictly prohibited.


Security code
Refresh