Labour washes hands of ITV Digital

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell today washed her hands of collapsed broadcaster ITV Digital and ruled out government help for victims of its failure.

In a Commons statement on the fate of the company, which faces being broken up by administrators, she admitted channels could soon disappear from the screens of its million subscribers.

At that point, she said, the Independent Television Commission would step in and readvertise ITV Digital's broadcasting licences, in a speeded-up process likely to take six weeks.

Ms Jowell insisted the Government would stick to its target of converting Britain to digital TV by 2010. She also ruled out aid for the football clubs due a slice of the £178 million ITV Digital owes the Football League.

She told MPs: "This is essentially a private matter between a company and its creditors. In any new technology there are bumps on route, and this has been one. Digital TV is more than ITV Digital."

She added: "Football hasn't asked the Government to bail it out financially, but we want to do all we can to offer clubs support at this difficult time."

ITV Digital was put on course for liquidation after the failure of shareholders Carlton and Granada` to strike a deal with the Football League over broadcasting rights.

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