ITV, STV Settle Dispute

LONDON: Scottish broadcaster STV has agreed to pay ITV £18 million, settling the long-running legal spat between the two companies.

In September 2009, ITV initiated legal proceedings against STV, alleging non-payment of £38 million in network program budget contributions. ITV alleged that STV—which holds the ITV1 license in parts of Scotland—was not honoring its contractual contributions towards the network program budget and that it was trying to opt out a number of peak-time programs. STV hit back with its own counterclaims over ITV’s online rights to shows that STV helped finance.

The agreement announced today settles all pending legal disputes. Reports indicate that STV may continue to opt out of certain ITV shows.