WH
I don't think Ofcom would allow the channels to "go dark" on Virgin. Surely there must be a rule of some kind to ensure the main channels are kept on air?
Quote:
LONDON — There's a danger ITV could disappear from Virgin Media unless the cable TV company pays it tens of millions of pounds.
That was the thinly veiled threat made by ITV chief executive Adam Crozier this week, as his firm prepares to negotiate a deal to keep its channels on Virgin TV platforms, including TiVo and V6.
ITV is able to demand payment after the introduction of the Digital Economy Act last month. The legislation abolished a copyright exemption cable TV platforms like Virgin had enjoyed since 1988. The old law let Virgin carry ITV for its 3.7 million subscribers without paying ITV a penny. ITV is home to shows such as Simon Cowell's "Britain's Got Talent" and "Coronation Street."
Virgin is extremely reluctant to foot such a bill, however. It thinks the ad revenue ITV makes from being guaranteed a prominent position in the TV guide (channel 3 in ITV's case) is compensation enough.
The BBC, Channel 4, and Channel 5 could also ask Virgin for payment to carry their main channels, but have not been as vocal about the issue as ITV. If disputes arise, UK media regulator Ofcom could step in to provide resolution.
http://uk.businessinsider.com/itv-could-remove-its-channels-from-virgin-media-2017-5?r=US&IR=T
That was the thinly veiled threat made by ITV chief executive Adam Crozier this week, as his firm prepares to negotiate a deal to keep its channels on Virgin TV platforms, including TiVo and V6.
ITV is able to demand payment after the introduction of the Digital Economy Act last month. The legislation abolished a copyright exemption cable TV platforms like Virgin had enjoyed since 1988. The old law let Virgin carry ITV for its 3.7 million subscribers without paying ITV a penny. ITV is home to shows such as Simon Cowell's "Britain's Got Talent" and "Coronation Street."
Virgin is extremely reluctant to foot such a bill, however. It thinks the ad revenue ITV makes from being guaranteed a prominent position in the TV guide (channel 3 in ITV's case) is compensation enough.
The BBC, Channel 4, and Channel 5 could also ask Virgin for payment to carry their main channels, but have not been as vocal about the issue as ITV. If disputes arise, UK media regulator Ofcom could step in to provide resolution.
http://uk.businessinsider.com/itv-could-remove-its-channels-from-virgin-media-2017-5?r=US&IR=T
I don't think Ofcom would allow the channels to "go dark" on Virgin. Surely there must be a rule of some kind to ensure the main channels are kept on air?