[loikujhygthj]

But they all buy the ADSL access from BT and are basically just billing operations - if BT chooses to implement a pay per content they will have to pass that on.

If you have a cable connection then it's probably owned by Sky (murdoch) already.

[DrJokepu]

That's not quite true - all they buy from BT is the "last mile" between the telephone exchange and the customer end point. Everything else is on the ISP's own (or rented) infrastructure.

[loikujhygthj]

True, all they rely on BT for is the bit that's completely impossible for them to get anywhere else or duplicate.

[electromagnetic]

Actually they're completely free to create their own last-mile connections, most simply choose not to and try to irk out their living being the middle man.

[axod]

Incorrect. Many of them, do buy the ADSL access from BT. But many of the only use BT for them exchange->house portion, and install their own equipment in exchanges. (Local loop unbundling).