The High Court today began hearing the Football League’s claim against Carlton and Granada for the £178.5 million owed following the collapse of ITV Digital earlier this year (see Football League Kicks Off Action Against ITV Digital Owners).
The League, which represents 72 clubs, insists that the television companies are legally obliged to honour the terms of the contract that was ripped up when their jointly owned digital TV business went into liquidation in April.
Carlton and Granada deny that any parent guarantees were in place and refuse to accept liability for the remaining two years of the £315 million deal agreed by ITV Digital. Senior executives from the two companies are expected to give evidence in court next week.
The Football League recently concluded a new £95 million TV rights deal with BSkyB which will screen their matches for the next four years.
