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Italy Fines Sky Italia €4.2 Million for Unfair Subscription Practices

Consumer groups renewed demands for explicit consent rules on price increases.

Overview

  • Italy’s Antitrust authority said Sky misled customers about subscription price hikes, imposing a €2 million penalty for deceptive communications.
  • A further €800,000 fine targeted the application of increases to Now TV offers promoted with the claim “until you cancel,” which regulators said implied exemption.
  • An additional €1.4 million sanction addressed retention deals via added TV packages or Sky Wi‑Fi whose promised terms were not reflected on bills.
  • Sky said it was surprised by the ruling, asserted confidence in the correctness of its conduct, and will consider legal actions in the appropriate venues.
  • The Unione Nazionale Consumatori welcomed the sanction but deemed it insufficient, urging clearer standalone notices and tighter rules on unilateral contract changes.