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Digital Economy Bill [HL]

I rise briefly to support what the noble Baroness has said. The main point regarding the important providers of regional or local news is that we want the system to work well. ITV is crucial in this, and it seems to me that it has made a good offer. On the one hand, this will take from it responsibility for a £50 million per year cost; on the other hand, it has to broadcast the output of the new consortium on ITV1 and ensure that it makes good viewing for local audiences. It is important to have local choice in television, otherwise we will be turning the clock back to a period when the BBC had a monopoly. I do not think that anyone wants to go back to those days, including the BBC. It wants competition as well. This amendment is therefore important. If the Government can express in the legislation their intention that the new consortium should be selected with the agreement and full involvement of the Channel 3 licensee, that will be all to the good. I thoroughly support what the noble Baroness said.