BT And Carlton In Digital Terrestrial Talks

Carlton Communications has begun talking to BT about creating interactive TV services if the British Digital Broadcasting consortium, which includes Carlton, Granada and BSkyB, wins the digital terrestrial television licence which is being advertised by the ITC.

According to a report in today’s Times BDB wants BT to develop interactive services such as home banking and shopping from which it would take a share of the revenue. This would complement the reported coalition being formed between BSkyB and BT over the introduction of set-top boxes for digital satellite TV.

BDB is keen to develop the interactive side of its terrestrial TV bid since many in the industry regard this as its weak spot in comparison with its rival bidder, the Digital Television Network.