BSkyB’s ITV Investment Faces Scrutiny

LONDON, January 12: The
U.K.’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has said that BSkyB’s acquisition of a
17.9-percent stake in ITV warrants further investigation.

The OFT is seeking comments
from “interested third parties” on whether the £940-million acquisition,
announced in November 2006, “may be expected to result in a substantial
lessening of competition.”

The closing date for
comments is January 25, 2007. NTL has already filed a complaint with the OFT;
the Sky deal was announced shortly before ITV rejected NTL’s takeover bid.