National Heritage secretary, Peter Brooke, is looking into the possibility of changing broadcasting rules which prevent individual ITV companies from taking over each other. Within the 1990 Broadcasting Act it deems the 14 regional companies as “large”, and therefore unable to iniatiate take- overs.
Brooke realises this could result in future problems for certain ITV companies who will find it difficult to compete on an international level. Both Central and Carlton Television are eager for the Government to press ahead with the change.
