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Sky and Virgin fail over TV deal | Sky and Virgin fail over TV deal |
(about 19 hours later) | |
Television providers BSkyB and Virgin Media have continued to accuse each other of intransigence in a row that has led to customers losing channels. | Television providers BSkyB and Virgin Media have continued to accuse each other of intransigence in a row that has led to customers losing channels. |
Sky has pulled its main channels from Virgin's cable TV service in a row over payment, leaving viewers unable to watch programmes such as Lost and 24. | Sky has pulled its main channels from Virgin's cable TV service in a row over payment, leaving viewers unable to watch programmes such as Lost and 24. |
On Friday, Sky said that Virgin had rejected its latest attempt to find a solution to the long-running spat. | On Friday, Sky said that Virgin had rejected its latest attempt to find a solution to the long-running spat. |
Virgin said that it was open to realistic offers, but none were made. | Virgin said that it was open to realistic offers, but none were made. |
'Little prospect' | 'Little prospect' |
Last month, Virgin launched a High Court legal action against Sky, claiming that Sky was abusing its dominant market position and wanted to double its prices. | Last month, Virgin launched a High Court legal action against Sky, claiming that Sky was abusing its dominant market position and wanted to double its prices. |
Sky denied the claims, adding that the higher prices would have cost Virgin just three pence per customer per day. | Sky denied the claims, adding that the higher prices would have cost Virgin just three pence per customer per day. |
On Friday, Sky said that it wrote to Virgin on 10 May offering to compromise and reach an agreement. | On Friday, Sky said that it wrote to Virgin on 10 May offering to compromise and reach an agreement. |
Sky said that £10m separated the two sides and their view of the correct level of pricing, and that they should agree to meet in the middle. | Sky said that £10m separated the two sides and their view of the correct level of pricing, and that they should agree to meet in the middle. |
Virgin said that offer did not go far enough and any deal would need to "reflect the fair value of the Sky Basic channels and the damage inflicted on Virgin". | Virgin said that offer did not go far enough and any deal would need to "reflect the fair value of the Sky Basic channels and the damage inflicted on Virgin". |
Sky concluded that there was "now little prospect of Virgin Media agreeing to restore Sky basic channels to its network, at least for the foreseeable future". | Sky concluded that there was "now little prospect of Virgin Media agreeing to restore Sky basic channels to its network, at least for the foreseeable future". |
Both sides accused the other of conducting their negotiations through the media. | Both sides accused the other of conducting their negotiations through the media. |
Virgin Media was formed earlier this year by the merger of NTL, Telewest and Virgin's mobile phone operations. | Virgin Media was formed earlier this year by the merger of NTL, Telewest and Virgin's mobile phone operations. |
Last month, the company said that the loss of Sky's channels would increasingly impact its earnings in coming months. |
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