Carlton Communications has paid BSkyB a significant proportion of the money it owed Sky following the satellite broadcaster’s departure from the British Digital Broadcasting consortium, of which Carlton is a member (subscribers see BSkyB Leaves The Alliance). When Sky was forced to leave the digital group by the ITC, it was agreed that the other two members, Granada and Carlton, would compensate it by paying £60 million. Granada agreed to pay its £30 million share, but Carlton did not.
In February BSkyB issued a writ against Carlton demanding the money; Carlton said it was waiting for Sky to secure broadcasting rights for sports events to be shown on BDB channels (subscribers see Carlton Communications Waiting For Premier League Rights).
Carlton says that it is now satisfied that Sky is making significant progress in securing these rights and so has paid what is believed to be around £25 million. The remaining amount will be paid when BSkyB finalises the programming content which will be carried on BDB.
Despite this settlement, a dispute is currently being fought between Sky and BDB over the compatibility of the two companies’ set-top box technology (subscribers see ITC Attempts To Smooth Set-Top Box Dispute).
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