Oral answer to question provided on Tuesday, 28 November 2006 in the House of Lords, by Lord Truscott (Labour).

Television: Sky and ITV

Answer: My Lords, there are two separate issues here regarding the OFT and Ofcom. First,the DTI remains in contact with the OFT about the transaction and will keep under review whether the Secretary of State could or should intervene on public interest grounds. Ofcom is looking at the other issue. It has announced that it is inviting comments from BSkyB and ITV on whether the transaction has resulted in a change of control in one or more of the licences held by ITV. If Ofcom were to conclude that such a change had occurred, it would review its effects on the content of programming. Those are two separate issues and both are being investigated.

This is an answer to the Oral question asked on Tuesday, 28 November 2006 by Lord McNally (Liberal Democrat).

Question: My Lords, while thanking the Minister for his Answer, perhaps I may ask him to look at Early Day Motion 309 in the other place. It is an impressively all-party Motion which, among other things, asks "““whether the raid gives Sky the ability to materially influence ITV””," says that that should be investigated, and "““believes a prima facie case exists for the Secretary of State to subsequently intervene and instruct Ofcom to undertake a public interest inquiry””." Is that not wise advice? In fact, should we not go further? Is it not time that Ofcom carried out a full public inquiry into Sky’s many anti-competitive actions which are distorting our broadcasting market?

Secondary information

Type: Oral answer to question
Reference: 687 c650
Session: 2006-07
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Competition Sky Public interest Office of Fair Trading Ofcom Sales Shares Unfair practices ITV Network Television companies
Link: View this Oral answer to question on www.publications.parliament.uk