ITC Cautions Franchise Holders

The ITC has advised the new TV franchise holders to act with caution when considering whether to accept their licences or pass them on to under bidders in whom they would then take a stake.

The ITC has suggested that if the list of shareholders involved in a bid changed, then the application itself has been changed. ‘Runners-up’ cannot therefore be guaranteed the licence if the winners default.

The ITC’s thinking will affect the efforts currently being made by White Rose and North West Television to persuade Yorkshire and Tyne Tees to give up their franchises.

ITC chairman George Russell has gone on record saying that he believes that the ITC has the power to re-advertise the licence where the winner turns it down.