Channel 4 Appeal For Independence

Channel 4 yesterday appealed for the safety net linking them with ITV to be removed, claiming it will cost them £500m over the next 10 years.

Michael Grade, chief executive, said that his channel would never need the safety net so the money was going straight into ITV profits. He demanded a funding change by the beginning of next year. Sir Michael Bishop, C4 chairman, said yesterday that a funding formula “designed as an insurance policy for Channel 4 has turned into a golden goose for ITV, creating a substantial liability for the channel it was designed to protect.”

ITV SIGNS UP UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

ITV has signed a new contract for exclusive coverage of the UEFA Champions League. Negotiations were concluded last Wednesday following the Champions Cup Final between AC Milan and Barcelona.

The contract gives ITV eleven live match dates from over 60 top European fixtures throughout each season, over a three year period. The deal also gives ITV exclusive coverage of the Final, which in previous years the BBC has also had access to. Bob Burrows, Controller of ITV Sport, said, “This important new contract guarantees that the very best of European soccer – including Manchester United’s fixtures next season- will be seen on ITV.”