Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuart C
*if* Sky bought the VM cable service (which, afaik, is *not* for sale or even being valued), they would have an effective monopoly on Pay TV. Now, assuming that the Competition commission don't intervene (which they would probably be required to), Sky wouldn't lower prices. Why would they? They'd have no competition.
On the contrary, I think you would find their prices going up massively.
---------- Post added at 20:04 ---------- Previous post was at 19:57 ----------
Orange media sounds absolutely awful. Everyone I know who has had Orange Broadband or an Orange Mobile has had problems..
As for C&W showing an interest? Based upon the past, I wouldn't expect any interest they show lasting long.. They already bought a lot of cable companies in 1999, which they had disposed off by 2003-2004. Then, they bought Bulldog, kept the network and sold off everything apart from the network. Bulldog is still trading, but it is as a unit of Pipex, which is part of Tiscali.
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Cable and Wireless acquired Nynex,Videotron and Bellcable media in 1997 and also merged Mercury which it already owned into Cable and Wireless Communications, thats why Mercury One2one recieved new branding.
In 1999 Cable and Wireless experienced a few financial problems and sold of its 50% share of one2one to Deutsche Telekom, US West also sold theres to Deutsche Telekom too meaning one2one was a wholly owned Deutsche Telekom firm.
Cable and Wireless then planned to acquire Telewest Communications and if not sell all of its cable franchises. NTL was the lucky one and they acquired all of Cable and Wireless's and BT's cable franchises. ITV also had to dispose of Diamond Cable due to a competition issue and NTL also recieved that.
Bulldog Comms was sold off because there was a lot of problems with upgrading its network, they expanded to fast and most customers had no service even though they paid upfront,there was also a problem with the billing system too. Bulldog was ordered to pay its customers back and this is a long process. Therefore Cable and Wireless again experienced financial issues and sold its customer base although according to the register, Cable and Wireless are selling directly to a few ex-bulldog customers. Cable and Wireless also planned on disposing some of its low revenue generating business customers too but disposed of many workers.
Recently, Cable and Wireless, rebranded there channel island operations and have now launched in the Isle of man selling to all sectors. Its called ''Sure'' .
So whos what they will do!