Government Rethink On TV Licences

The government has dropped the controversial “contiguity rule” which would have prevented dual ownership of adjacent TV franchise areas, and has re-defined as large all areas except TSW, Border, Grampian, Ulster, Channel and Tyne Tees. Licence holders can now own up to one large and one small franchise plus 20% of a third licence and 5% of any other franchises. The new proposals also assert that national newspaper proprietors would not be allowed to take more than a 20% interest in any local radio licence or in a domestic satellite licence.