UK pay-television operator Virgin Media has demanded that mobile operator EE’s deal with pay-television broadcaster BT for access to the BT Sport channels is suspended, according to the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Virgin Media has claimed that the deal for EE’s monthly subscribers to be given six months of free access to BT Sport channels via a mobile application represents a breach of contract of its own carriage agreement for the channels.
The cable operator, which has a wholesale deal to provide BT Sport to its pay-television subscribers, has reportedly alleged that the BT-EE agreement blocks BT from allowing wholesale access to BT Sport at a lower price than it currently pays.
BT has so far refused to suspend the deal, despite Virgin Media reportedly being 'furious' about the development.
BT Sport shows live domestic coverage of football’s top-tier English Premier League, among other top properties.