Watchdog unplugs Foxtel deal.

Australasian Business Intelligence, June, 2002

ABIX via COMTEX) -- The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has vetoed an alliance between Australia's pay television groups. The ACCC ruled that the proposed content-sharing deal between Foxtel and Singtel Optus would be anti-competitive if it proceeded in its present form. However, the ACCC has left the way open for a revised arrangement to be approved. The ACCC's concerns included Foxtel's strong position in terms of setting prices for pay television content, and the issue of third-party access to Foxtel's channel distribution. Foxtel and Optus are likely to modify the proposed alliance in order to make it more palatable to the consumer watchdog.

Publication Date: 22 June 2002

AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER

...