MPs React To ITV Digital Decision
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has issued a statement regarding the decision by ITV Digital administrators Deloitte & Touche to sell the company (see ITV Digital Will Be Sold As ‘Going Concern’). She describes the failure to find a deal acceptable to both the Football League and ITV Digital as “a great shame” but insists that, while she will be keeping in close contact with the parties involved, the matter is “now squarely in the hands of the administrator.”
Jowell’s opposite number in the shadow cabinet, Tim Yeo, who has on previous occasions accused her of “dithering” about the analogue switch-off date (see Tories Accuse Jowell Of Dithering On Digital) and called for legislation allowing the consolidation of ITV to be passed ahead of the Communications Bill (see Tories Call For ITV Consolidation), today said the news of ITV Digital’s fate was “a disaster for football and threatens Britain’s leadership of the digital television revolution.”
He went on to say that “Management incompetence and Ministerial confusion” had “undermined the viability of the digital terrestrial platform.” before expressing his hope for an eleventh hour solution.
DCMS: 020 7211 6200 www.culture.gov.uk
Recent Related Stories from NewsLine: No New Offer From ITV Digital For League To Consider ITV Digital Prepared For Sale As One Week Of Talks Remains ITV Digital Could Be Closed By Monday
Subscribers can access ten years of media news and analysis in the Archive