Changes to the 1990 Broadcasting Act allowing ITV companies to take over each other have been opposed by a number of the smaller companies within the network, particularly Anglia and HTV (Newsline 27/5).
Both medium-sized, they fear that takeovers will be imminent if the changes go ahead, with Anglia chief David McCall claiming he is not totally convinced by the economic arguments of the decision. Simon Forrest of HTV describes it as “one of the biggest rifts that’s ever happened in ITV”. Peter Brooke has made it clear that he will listen to all arguments before a final amendment to the Act is undertaken.
