BSkyB – Virgin Media trial up to one year away

Virgin Media’s lawsuit against BSkyB is not likely to reach the courts for at least another year, according to a timetable agreed by the UK broadcasters.

A pre-trial hearing over whether BSkyB abused its position in the pay-TV market is scheduled for November time. .

A trial would take place after that, with a verdict possibly upto two years away.

Virgin launched a High Court action against BSkyB in April after a programming row.

When it launched the action, Virgin accused Sky of “forcing” it to accept much lower fees for some of its channels, and then sharply increasing the price it charged Virgin Media for providing the basic channels package, which includes Sky One, Sky News and Sky Sports News.

Sky argued that the higher fee would have included more customer choice.

This arrangement was rejected by Virgin Media and the Sky basic channels were then removed from its cable TV network – formerly known as NTL – leaving customers without several popular shows, such as popular series such as Lost and the Simpsons.

Sky has said that Virgin’s charges are “without foundation”.