By: Hugo
McNally Asks DCMS For ITV Assurances
McNally Asks DCMS For ITV Assurances
Lord McNally, the Lib Dem peer who wasn’t too pleased with the terms on which the UK terrestial TV market was opened up to foreign ownership in the Communications Act, 2003 told an audience at the Creators Rights Alliance Seminar at the Royal Society of Arts earlier this week that he had asked the Government for a statement in regard to any US takeover of the soon-to-be merged ITV.
McNally, who was quoted in The Guardian back in July as saying - “The bill should be re-drafted to rule out an American takeover of the third channel…” - also told the audience:
“Prior to the passing of the Communications Act both the Puttnam Committee and the Liberal Democrats argued that ITV should be given a breathing space following merger by empowering the new regulator Ofcom to examine the case for permitting a possible American takeover of the new company. The Government wilfully ignored that advice on the totally untested basis that American ownership would produce better management and more investment with no dilution of either quality or British content.
“We now see the consequences of such a pig in a poke approach. ITV comes immediately into play with Boardroom coups and rumours of shadowy American predators waiting in the wings.
“Given that Ofcom does not take up its duties until 29 December, Tessa Jowell must make it clear to both City speculators and American would-be buyers that any change of ownership of ITV will have to clear the hurdles of public service license commitments and the public interest safeguards written into the Communications Act by Parliament. The right to terrestrial commercial television licenses is a public asset and, as such, the Minister has a responsibility to protect ITV and its future from exploitation by those whose first motivation is profit rather than quality and public service.”
McNally’s approach on this issue, although valid, always surprises me. He used to be UK head of US corporate lobbying firms Hill and Knowlton and Weber Shandwick - where he is still the Vice-Chairman.
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