Watchdog probes BSkyB's stake in ITV

Updated 10.06 Thu May 24 2007
Keywords: Competition Commission, ITV, BSkyB

The competition watchdog is to look into BSkyB's acquisition of a 17.9 per cent stake in fellow broadcaster ITV.

The deal has been referred to the Competition Commission by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Office of Fair Trading said in April that the purchase raised competition concerns as it thought ITV was no longer independent.

Media regulator Ofcom said public interest issues were at stake over the number of different media owners.

The Department of Trade and Industry said it had referred the case to the Competition Commission on both grounds.

BSkyB made the purchase in November, effectively blocking NTL - since relaunched as Virgin Media - which had said it was interested in buying ITV.

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