Channel 5 Doubtful

Doubts over the future of Channel 5 are growing, it emerged at the Edinburgh Television Festival yesterday. The ITC is to decide next month whether to re-advertise the channel or not, bearing in mind the government’s latest rulings, which will make the channel only able to reach about 50% of the population.

The successful applicant could have to spend up to £100m on retuning domestic video recorders and providing new rooftop aerials before launching. David Elstein, director of programmes at BSkyB accused the Departments of Trade and Industry and National Heritage of reducing C5’s prospects.

According to the ITC, it could take up to three years to secure international agreements to find additional frequencies to reach major conurbations such as Manchester and Liverpool. Charles Allen of Granada pointed out that 17% of the population uses set-top aerials which would be unlikely to receive the new channel. “It does not seem to stack up – if the game was playable we would play it,” he said.

… David Elstein, of Sky, reassured delegates at the festival that Sky had no plans to bid for exclusive rights to listed events. Delegates in the audience however, questioned whether it was right to rely on what amounts to a voluntary agreement with Sky.