Pub companies slam Sky price-hike

Britain's biggest pub companies have slammed Sky, after price rises of up to 22 per cent for pubs and bars wanting to show live football.

Pub groups have accused Sky of abusing its monopoly position as the sole provider of Premiership football in the UK.

Mitchells & Butlers, Britain's biggest managed house business, said it was 'extremely unhappy' about the increases and would cancel subsriptions where possible.

Scottish & Newcastle, which is selling its 1,500 pubs, said: "These price rises mean that in some cases it is cheaper to provide live entertainment than show football."

Wolverhampton & Dudley is slashing the number of managed pubs showing Sky from 280 to 190. Managed boss Derek Andrew said: "This is exploitation of a monopoly and is not just a one-off increase, but every year."

Punch Taverns said it would be complaining to the Office of Fair Trading. "We find it appalling," Francis Patton told the Mail newspaper. "Sky's popularity was created by the pubs market and yet now it is creating a stranglehold on the sector."

Sky responded by saying: "Sky invests a huge amount in its programme and is extremely good value. There are many other forms of entertainment that pubs can offer."

Laurel Pub Company went against the grain of general reactions by saying it would increase the number of pubs with Sky.

Related articles:​ Anger as Sky hikes up fees (3 July 2003)

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