Creditors Could Sue ITV Digital’s Directors

The creditors of the recently collapsed ITV Digital are considering suing its directors over the demise of the pay-TV business, according to a report in yesterday’s Sunday Times.

The report claims that the creditors believe that ITV Digital’s board of directors, which included members of the pay-TV firm’s parent companies, Carlton and Granada, could have shared information regarding the state of the company and should have known that it was in trouble long before the administrators were called in.

It is understood that the creditors, which include the Football League and BSkyB, are calling for an independent liquidator to find out if there is a case to answer.

ITV Digital, which collapsed earlier in the year with debts of more than £1.2 billion (see Administrators Confirm ITV Digital Sale), currently owes the Football League around £180m. The League is planning to sue Carlton and Granada for the money it is owed (see Football League Kicks Off Action Against ITV Digital Owners) and is understood to have called on football fans to boycott ITV’s football coverage.

Four bidders have emerged to take over the digital terrestrial TV licences made available following the collapse of ITV Digital. The ITC is currently considering proposals from a BBC and BSkyB alliance and one formed between ITV and Channel 4. Venture capital company Apex and existing digital TV operator SDN have also submitted bids (see Four Bidders Emerge For Digital Terrestrial Licences).

Carlton: 020 7663 6363 www.carlton.com Granada: 020 7620 1620 www.granada.co.uk

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