[Satellite TODAY 06-28-10] Satellite pay-TV operator Sky Deutschland is expanding its cooperation with German cable operator Kabel BW to combine the CleverKabel Internet and telephone offers with Sky subscription packages as well as live broadcasts of German Bundesliga soccer, Sky Deutschland announced June 25.
    “Together with Internet and flat rate telephony, we have developed a high-value and absolutely competitive total package for all Kabel BW customers. The cooperation with Kabel BW means the first sales and marketing cooperation that exceeds supply with one of the big network operators,” Wolfram Winter, senior vice president of distribution development at Sky Deutschland, said in a statement.
    In a research note, Polo Tang, a media equity analyst at UBS, said the deal was positive for Sky Deutschland. “Sky has signed a partnership deal with the number three cable provider in Germany, KBW, which has 2.3 million basic cable subscribers. KBW will offer a bundled triple-play package, combining KBW’s Internet and telephony offer, with Sky’s premium content. The move is a strategic positive removing longer-term execution risk, as it incentivizes KBW to help Sky gain more subscribers. We expect further cable partnership deals with Unitymedia and Kabel Deutschland which would further reduce execution risk surrounding story longer term.”