ITC Seeks Role As Digital Watchdog

The Independent Television Commission has published its response to the proposals by the Government on cross media ownership which were published in May. The ITC “broadly welcomes the main thrust of the Government’s thinking” and supports its recognition of the need for special regulation of media ownership, and also supports the limited relaxation of rules enabling newspapers to increase ownership of television companies.

The ITC supports the re-examination of the present definition of control so it is not confined to voting power or the ownership of shares and welcomes the decision to retain the current arrangement whereby the ITC nominates the news provider for Channel 3.

With reference to digital broadcasting, the ITC urges the government to reconsider the proposal in the Digital Terrestrial policy paper that OFTEL and not the ITC should be regulator, saying that such regulation relates to broadcasting issues which should be regulated by the ITC. Long term structure should mean separation between ownership regulation.

ITC: 0171 255 3000