NTL To Carry ITV And Channel 4 Broadcasts Until Analogue Switch-Off

Cable company NTL has extended its contracts with the ITV companies and Channel 4 to cover the remainder of the analogue era. Effectively, the deal clears the way for the eventual ending of the conventional analogue age.

Under the £500 million deal, NTL will continue to transmit ITV and Channel 4 broadcasts until the government and the Independent Television Commission (ITC) decide that digital television is widespread enough to turn off the analogue signal .

The ITC decided towards the end of last year that it was too early to set a switch-off date for the analogue signal, and a date could only be arranged once attitudes towards digital television could be properly tested (see Newsline).

Peter Douglas, group managing director of NTL’s broadcast and radio communication division, commented: “Naturally, we are absolutely delighted with the extension of this long-term business. We regard it as a great compliment to have been entrusted with analogue transmission until 2012 and beyond. In fact, it means that we will have transmitted ITV and Channel 4 for their entire analogue history which, in the case of ITV, will exceed 50 years – half a century, not out!”

NTL: 01252 402 000