§ John BarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment she had made of the implications of the collapse of ITV Digital for the provision of ITV franchise licence fees under the digital dividend of(a) Granada plc and (b) Carlton Communications plc; [50712]
(2) if she will review the terms of the digital dividend rebate offered to ITV companies for the promotion of digital television. [50711]
§ Dr. HowellsUnder the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1996, the percentage of qualifying multiplex revenue payable to the Independent Television Commission by the digital terrestrial licencees has been set by order at nil for the duration of the licences. The purpose of this is to promote the availability of free-to-view digital television by offsetting related costs. The ITV companies therefore do not make payments to the Treasury on the proportion of their advertising revenue attributed to viewing in homes that are digital. There are no plans to review or alter this framework.