Error
Just a slight correction in the editorial: BSkyB had nothing to to do with the bidding process as indicated in the article. This was instigated by Carlton Communications and GMG became partners in the process.
Rupert Murdoch's team had no dealings in this until they were invited into the consortium as content providers and smart card evangelists.
They were forced out of the group by the monopolies board and were paid a considerable amount of money by the consortium as compensation (for doing nothing or adding any investment). Which was one of the other failings of BDB/OnDigital contractual processes made by the management team.
Unfortunately, the whole business plan was flawed from the beginning by following a BSkyB business model and using 'hackable' smart card technology and poorly specced STB's. What should have happened was a free-to-air content provision with bolted-on pay-per-view subscription system and f course a properly sourced senior management structure.
In addition who's in their right mind to allow FA negotiated contracts to be funded from a purse with no subscribers and of minority interest (everyone wanted premier league football) to go ahead when it was stated at the time; 'it would have been cheaper to fly the subscriber to football matches by helicopter than recoup and repay the FA contract'
The whole affair was history repeating itself as it was at BSB previously, too many aspirations, too many high-flyers, too much money down the drain. It could have been good but everyone was greedy!
Biting the hand that feeds IT
