Mediaset files untitrust suit over Sky dongle

Italian commercial broadcaster Mediaset has filed a suit with the country’s antitrust authority over the digital dongle introduced by pay-TV provider Sky Italia that would allow its HD subscribers to view digital-terrestrial channels.

Mediaset claims that the dongle’s distribution would be violation of national and European competition rules and commitments made by News Corp at the time of the merger of pay-TV operators Telepiù and Stream under its ownership.  Mediaset claims the dongle is intended to halt the distribution of decoders that make it possible to receive the services of other pay-TV operators. It also holds that Sky made a commitment not to engage in further DTT activities at least until the end of 2011.