ITC Denies Backtracking On ‘Unbundling’ Strategy

The Independent Television Commission denies that it is set to ‘backtrack’ on its proposals to ‘unbundle’ cable and satellite television channels (see ITC Recommends Smaller Channel Packages For Pay TV).

Since the Commission announced that it planned to remove the minimum carriage requirements (MCRs), which ensure that smaller cable and satellite channels are distributed to the majority of pay-TV viewers, L!ve TV, one such channel, threatened legal action if the ITC went ahead. L!ve TV is owned by Mirror Group and Mirror’s deputy chief executive at the time, Kelvin MacKenzie, said that the channel would be driven out of business if the MCRs were removed.

The Times has reported that in the light of such threats, the ITC was about back down on the introduction of its proposals. A spokesperson for the ITC, however, denies that any timescale for the introduction of the new codes had ever been mentioned.

Nevertheless, the ITC says that it will be holding a press conference later this week at which the issue will be addressed. It is likely that broadcasting channels with existing contracts will be allowed to see the contracts out before the new rules are imposed on them. New channels, however, are expected to be forced to adhere to the new ITC codes.

The ITC is hoping that this will prevent any legal action being taken by cable and satellite broadcasters.

Independent Television Commission: 0171 255 3000