IPA Call For C5 Approval

The IPA is calling on the ITC to approve the readvertisement of the fifth channel at their meeting today. Adrian Birchall, chairman of the IPA’s future of broadcasting working party, said, “Given that the Government has now decided that the licence fee should be the main source of finance for the BBC’s public services until at least 2001, it should now be giving positive encouragement to the ITC to readvertise the Channel 5 licence without delay.”

The IPA has issued a statement saying that a new city-based C5 service will be welcomed by viewers and advertisers as a valuable extension of choice; it does not see why C5 should be delayed purely because of uncertainty over its likely final level of coverage. The IPA predicts that this will be increased by approval from neighbouring countries of extra frequencies or the signal being boosted by either satellite or cable relay arrangements.

YTTV have signalled their interest in applying for a C5 licence should it be readvertised (Newsline 13/9); Virgin Communications is also expected to apply for a licence.

According to Ray Snoddy in today’s FT, there is a new international consortium wanting to bid for the licence. The group is led by CanWest Global Communications; the consortium is believed to include three big UK corporations.

It is generally expected that the ITC will approve the new channel – an announcement is expected imminently.