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| Consumer body angry at BSkyB row | Consumer body angry at BSkyB row |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| The National Consumer Council may ask for a review of the digital television market after Virgin Media stopped broadcasting some BSkyB channels. | The National Consumer Council may ask for a review of the digital television market after Virgin Media stopped broadcasting some BSkyB channels. |
| The broadcasters were accused of "behaving like children" by the organisation, which is considering making an official complaint. | The broadcasters were accused of "behaving like children" by the organisation, which is considering making an official complaint. |
| The switch-off came on Wednesday after the deadline passed for the companies to resolve a row over TV rights. | The switch-off came on Wednesday after the deadline passed for the companies to resolve a row over TV rights. |
| The two companies argued over whether BSkyB's higher fees were justified. | The two companies argued over whether BSkyB's higher fees were justified. |
| 'Posturing' | 'Posturing' |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Let's have a common sense solution and one that puts the customers first Philip Cullem, NCC Q&A: Sky & Virgin | |
| Philip Cullem, deputy chief executive of the National Consumer Council, accused both broadcasters of "behaving like children". | Philip Cullem, deputy chief executive of the National Consumer Council, accused both broadcasters of "behaving like children". |
| He told BBC Radio Five Live: "At the end of the month we'll make a decision about putting in the super-complaint that that will help to knock heads together. | He told BBC Radio Five Live: "At the end of the month we'll make a decision about putting in the super-complaint that that will help to knock heads together. |
| "It's time to get them back round a table - let's have a common-sense solution and one that puts the customers first, rather than all this posturing between two rather big media companies." | |
| Talks between the two broadcasters broke down last week. | Talks between the two broadcasters broke down last week. |
| Virgin Media said it had made "continued efforts" to strike a deal with Sky, but that its rival broadcaster had rejected an offer of independent arbitration. | |
| "We're disappointed but not surprised by this outcome," said Virgin Media chief executive Steve Burch. | "We're disappointed but not surprised by this outcome," said Virgin Media chief executive Steve Burch. |
| "Nothing Sky have said or done in the course of the negotiation indicates they had the slightest interest in doing a commercially viable deal." | "Nothing Sky have said or done in the course of the negotiation indicates they had the slightest interest in doing a commercially viable deal." |
| A Sky spokesman said: "We know that Sky's basic channels have many loyal cable viewers and our aim has been to avoid any disruption to their enjoyment of our programmes. We're disappointed that we will now be denied access to cable TV homes. | |
| "We've made repeated efforts to reach an agreement, but Virgin Media has rejected all of our proposals." | |
| Virgin Media - which was formed from the merger of cable TV firm NTL and Virgin Mobile - accused BSkyB of "bullying" and "arrogance". | Virgin Media - which was formed from the merger of cable TV firm NTL and Virgin Mobile - accused BSkyB of "bullying" and "arrogance". |
| Virgin Media had warned it would drop the Sky Basics TV package, which also includes Sky News, Sky Travel and Sky Sports News, if agreement on a new contract to replace its current one could not be reached. | Virgin Media had warned it would drop the Sky Basics TV package, which also includes Sky News, Sky Travel and Sky Sports News, if agreement on a new contract to replace its current one could not be reached. |
| Sky One includes popular series such as 24 and Lost, as well as new episodes of The Simpsons. | Sky One includes popular series such as 24 and Lost, as well as new episodes of The Simpsons. |
| The latest war of words between the two firms came as Virgin Media revealed that 37,000 customers had left the company during the final three months of 2006, before the firm's rebranding. | The latest war of words between the two firms came as Virgin Media revealed that 37,000 customers had left the company during the final three months of 2006, before the firm's rebranding. |
| However, Virgin Media said revenues had remained ahead of expectations at £1.08bn ($2.1bn), from £916.1m a year ago on a pro-forma basis. | However, Virgin Media said revenues had remained ahead of expectations at £1.08bn ($2.1bn), from £916.1m a year ago on a pro-forma basis. |
| On Monday, the government ordered media regulator Ofcom to investigate BSkyB's controversial purchase of a 17.9% stake in ITV. | On Monday, the government ordered media regulator Ofcom to investigate BSkyB's controversial purchase of a 17.9% stake in ITV. |
| BSkyB's decision to buy into ITV was seen by some as an attempt to block a bid for the firm from its then rival NTL. | BSkyB's decision to buy into ITV was seen by some as an attempt to block a bid for the firm from its then rival NTL. |
| The government said it had asked the watchdog to advise on whether November's share deal was against the public interest. | The government said it had asked the watchdog to advise on whether November's share deal was against the public interest. |