A PYMNTS Company

Mexico: Dish accuses IFT of helping Televisa hoard pay-TV

By  |  October 8, 2015

Satellite TV provider Dish Mexico has pledged to appeal against the recent decision of the country’s telecoms watchdog IFT to withdraw Televisa’s dominant player status in the pay-TV market. The IFT last week stated that due to changes in the market, above all the growth of rivals such as Dish and Megacable, Televisa no longer has the status of a preponderant agent in pay-TV.

However, in a statement Dish said the regulator missed a chance to promote competition in a market in which Televisa still retains a 62 percent share, even if it has dipped from 64 percent in September 2013. “IFT’s board regarded the fact that the competitors of Grupo Televisa (Dish and Megacable) attracted a minimum number of subscribers between 2013 and 2015 as indicative that there is no predominant status,” said Dish in its statement.

Dish Mexico is itself the subject of an investigation by the IFT regarding what rivals such as Televisa have described as a “de facto partnership” with America Movil’s fixed-line unit Telmex.

Full content: El Financiero

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.