BBC 'interested' in digital licences

12 April 2012

THE BBC has confirmed it has expressed an interest in acquiring the three digital licences surrendered by the closure last month of pay-TV broadcaster ITV Digital.

'The BBC has expressed interest in the three digital terrestrial multiplex licences formerly owned by ITV Digital. This is not a bid but a holding position,' said the corporation. 'It was not realistic for us to reach agreement in the time available before the deadline for submissions so we will be entering into discussions with other interested parties very soon,' it added.

The BBC is leading a consortium of broadcasters which includes ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and SDN, which already holds a digital terrestrial spectrum licence. So far the five broadcasters have put in separate expressions of interest to the Independent Television Commission. They had planned a consortium bid but did not have enough time to thrash out the detail of their proposal before the deadline of 5pm on Thursday.

The other confirmed bidder for ITV Digital's licences is MGt, a Scottish subscriber management company.

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