If Bt has bought back 2million 5 thousand shares to day. How come it shows on trades as a sell?

More Premier League games could be shown live and at a lower cost as Ofcom examines rights sales
Ofcom will ask probe whether subscribers to Sky Sports and BT Sport are being charged too much - and whether fans want 3pm kick-offs on Saturdays televised

By Ben Rumsby10:37AM GMT 18 Nov 2014 Comments2 Comments
More Premier League games could be shown live on television - including matches kicking off at 3pm on Saturday - at a cheaper price in future after Ofcom opened an investigation into the way they are sold in the UK.
The media watchdog announced on Tuesday it would examine whether subscribers to Sky Sports and BT Sport are being ripped off by selling arrangements which witnessed a 70 per cent increase in broadcast revenues at the most recent TV rights auction. Ofcom will consult fans over whether they would like more matches to be televised, and whether matches played at 3pm on a Saturday should be shown live in this country, which could be a disincentive to supporters attending lower league matches at that time.
Ofcom's decision, which followed a formal complaint from Virgin Media in September, could delay the next rights auction, which had been due to begin early next year.
The investigation will be carried out under the Competition Act and will consider "whether there is a breach of the UK and/or EU competition law prohibition on agreements and decisions which restrict or distort competition".
Ofcom said in a statement: "This case is at an early stage and Ofcom has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections."

Outlining the objection of Virgin Media, which predicted a 60 per cent increase on the current £3 billion contract and ruled out bidding for that reason, the watchdog added: "Virgin Media's complaint alleges that the arrangements for the 'collective' selling of live UK television rights by the Premier League for matches played by its member clubs is in breach of competition law.
"In particular, the complaint raises concerns about the number of Premier League matches for which live broadcasting rights are made available.
"Virgin Media argues that the proportion of matches made available for live television broadcast under the current Premier League rights deals - at 41 per cent - is lower than some other leading European leagues, where more matches are available for live television broadcast.
"The complaint alleges that this contributes to higher prices for consumers of pay-TV packages that include premium sport channels and for the pay-TV retailers of premium sports channels."
Ofcom said it was "mindful of the likely timing of the next auction of live UK audio-visual media rights, and is open to discussion with the Premier League about its plans".
It also revealed it would consider the views of supporters' groups, many of whom would object to more games being switched from 3pm on Saturdays.
Under current rules designed to protect lower-league attendances, that would be the only way for more live matches being shown on television.
Ofcom said: "Ofcom understands that the scheduling of football games is important to many football fans, in particular attending 3pm kick-offs on Saturdays.
"The investigation will take this into account and Ofcom plans to approach the Football Supporters' Federation and certain other supporters' groups to understand their views."

RESPONSE TO RECENT PRESS SPECULATION

BT Group plc (BT) notes the recent press speculation relating to a potential transaction involving Telefónica UK (O2) in the UK.

We continue to develop our own plans for providing enhanced mobile services to business and consumer customers, in line with our previous announcements. We remain confident of delivering on these plans and have also been exploring ways of accelerating them, including assessing the merits of an acquisition of a mobile network operator in the UK.

We have received expressions of interest from shareholders in two UK mobile network operators, of which one is O2, about a possible transaction in which BT would acquire their UK mobile business. All discussions are at a highly preliminary stage and there can be no certainty that any transaction will occur.

A further announcement will be made if and when appropriate.



-Ends-

of which one is O2,

Any idea who the other is ?

Talk Talk?

Most lunchtime flyers seem to think the 'other' option is EE.

Goldman Sachs Conviction Buy 394.10 394.10 600.00 600.00 Reiterates

Citigroup Buy 394.10 394.10 450.00 450.00 Reiterates

Deutsche Bank Hold 394.10 394.10 410.00 410.00 Reiterates

Jefferies International Buy 388.50 470.00 470.00 Retains

Espirito Santo Execution Noble Buy 400.10 480.00 480.00 Reiterates

Toying with £4 again.

EE owners confirm takeover talks with BT

(Reuters) - EE's German and French owners confirmed on Wednesday they were in talks to sell Britain's biggest mobile network operator to BT (BT.L) as part of a wider review of its options.

I wonder how many T-Mobile, Orange & EE customers would be happy with that? I know one who certainly wouldn't!

BT opts for EE over O2 for 12.5 billion-pound UK mobile deal

What will Vodafone do now ?

BT plans £2bn rights issue to fund EE takeover

See posts 486,487 & 500.

Chart of the week: A perfect tramline trade

Societe Generale Buy 409.10 400.20 - 480.00 Upgrades

Have held these in my ISA from 160p, and intending to hold for much longer yet.

New 14 year high @423.60p

Li Ka-shing's Hutchison to buy Telefonica UK unit for $15.4 billion

(Reuters) - Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa Ltd (0013.HK) has agreed to buy Telefonica's (TEF.MC) British mobile unit O2 for up to 10.25 billion pounds ($15.4 billion), as Asia's richest man makes his boldest bet yet to revamp his European telecoms business.

Looks a done deal - Hutchison to buy Telefonica UK unit for 10.25 billion pounds

(Reuters) - Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa Ltd has agreed to buy Telefonica's British mobile unit O2 for up to 10.25 billion pounds, hastening the consolidation of Britain's telecoms industry.

RESULTS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER AND NINE MONTHS TO 31 DECEMBER 2014


· Underlying revenue2 excluding transit down 1%
· Underlying operating costs4 excluding transit down 3% reflecting the benefit of our cost transformation activities
· EBITDA1 up 2% and earnings per share1 up 10%
· Normalised free cash flow3 of £908m, up 64%
· Outlook reaffirmed

BT ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF PENSION FUNDING VALUATION


BT agrees pension plan, unveils fibre network upgrade

Espirito Santo Execution Noble Buy 419.90 - 535.00 Reiterates

Jefferies International Buy 420.65 470.00 470.00 Retains