6.12.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 3121 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 15 September 1999 relating to a proceeding under Article 81 of the EC Treaty (Case IV[36.539 — British Interactive Broadcasting/Open) (notified under document number C(1999/2935)) (Only the English text is authentic) (1999/781/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation No 17 of 6 February 1962, First Regulation implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1216/ 1999 (3, and in particular Articles 6 and 8 thereof, Having regard to the application for negative clearance and the notification for exemption submitted, pursuant to Articles 2 and 4 of Regulation No 17, on 13 June 1997, Having regard to the summary of the application and notification published pursuant to Article 19(3) of Regulation No 17 (}), After consultation with the Advisory Committee for Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions; Whereas: (") 0J 13, 21.2.1962, pp. 204 to 62. (3 OJ L148, 15.6.1999, p. 5. () OJ C 322, 21.10.1998, p. 6. I. THE FACTS A. INTRODUCTION (1) On 13 June 1997, the parties notified to the Commission the creation of a joint venture company, British Interactive Broadcasting Ltd (BiB, now named Open) and requested negative clearance andfor exemption pursuant to Regulation No 17. BiB's parent companies are BSkyB Ltd, BT Holdings Limited, Midland Bank plc and Matsushita Electric Europe (Headquarters) Limited. (2) BiB is to provide a new type of service, digital interactive television services, to consumers in the United Kingdom. This involves putting in place the necessary infrastructure and services to allow companies, such as banks, supermarkets and travel agents, to interact directly with the consumer. An important element of this infrastructure is a digital set- top box. BiB will subsidise the retail selling price of digital satellite set-top boxes, satellite dishes and low- noise blocks (*) (LNBs). (% A low-noise block converter (LNB) detects the signal relayed from the feed, converts it to an electrical current, amplifies it and lowers its frequency.