Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has spoken in the House of Commons this morning about the collapse and imminent sale of ITV Digital. She confirmed that the sale will go ahead saying that “the usual commercial processes must take their course”.
ITV Digital subscribers will continue to receive free-to-air services although pay TV services “will last only as long as the company’s suppliers are willing to continue to supply their programmes and services.”
Once these services cease and the licensees can no longer fulfil the terms under which the licence was issued, the ITC will begin the process of revocation and re-issue of the licences “in an accelerated process”.
Jowell has met with representatives from the Football League and expressed sympathy towards clubs left in financial straits due to the money owed by ITV Digital. However, she made no suggestion that the Government would offer financial help to those in difficulties.
The statement concluded with a summary of the digital landscape in the UK, stressing the Government’s position on the digital future and the need for the changeover to be driven by consumer demand.
Jowell concluded “The success of DTT should not be equated with the position of one commercial operator. The fact that ITV Digital has not succeeded will not deflect us and the broadcasting industry from making a reality of the digital future. Digital TV is more than ITV Digital. ”
Read the full text of Jowell’s speech here
