Cable Franchise Guidelines

The director general of the Cable Authority, Jon Davey, speaking at the Financial Times Conference on ‘Investm- ent Opportunities in British Broadcasting’, yesterday set out four guidelines controlling the sale or takeover of cable franchises. Davey said the following guidelines are likely to be adopted by the ITC next January:

(1) Any change of ownership requires the approval of the Authority or after next January the ITC.

(2) Shares in any licensee companies can be bought and sold and control of the company can change hands.

(3) No new ownership will be approved if it contravenes section 8 of the 1984 Act or schedule 2 of the Broadcasting Bill.

(4) Approval of any change of ownership must be under the condition that the new owners follow the proposals for the services outlined in their application.

For Further Information Contact:

The Cable Authority: 071-498 8167