With the heated dispute between BSkyB and Virgin Media still fresh in the memory, United Kingdom communications regulator Ofcom will launch a market investigation into the pay-TV industry.

Following a submission from BSkyB’s competitors BT, Setanta, Top Up TV and Virgin Media, Ofcom will consider whether to make a market reference to the Competition Commission under the Enterprise Act 2002. Investigators will be concerned with features of the market including control over content, ownership of distribution platforms, retail subscriber bases and vertical integration.