OPEN

Another good analysis piece on the c-word (convergence) in the FT this morning (here – requires a subscription, worth getting one), which authors Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson and Mark Odell call "the dirty buzzword of the 90s"…

The piece starts off with and mainly focuses on BT’s view of convergence and interestingly includes a claim from Ben Verwaayen, BT’s chief exec, that Sky has NTL/Telewest in its sights not BT.

BT insists it has no plans to become a broadcaster but nevertheless
it is attacking Sky’s market place. Many analysts believe Sky is
encroaching on BT’s market.

 

Not so, says Ben Verwaayen, BT’s
chief executive. He claims Sky’s decision to buy Easynet is an attack
on NTL and Telewest, the cable operators that are in the process of
merging.

Why the mixed messages, I wonder.

Strange when the announcement of BT’s IPTV service and the split with Sky on joint marketing seemed to many to be return fire in the opening battle of the convergence war.