Unsuccessful Channel 5 bidders UKTV and Virgin Television have indicated
that they are unlikely to appeal against the Independent Television
Commission’s surprise decision to award the licence to the Channel 5
Broadcasting consortium.
A PR adviser for UKTV, the highest bidding consortium put together by
the Canadian broadcaster CanWest, which was widely expected to win the
licence, said an appeal against the decision was now unlikely.
‘The consortium members are analysing the ITC proposal point by point
and will take a view following that. It is unlikely that they will go
for a judicial review on the basis of the quality aspect of the bid,’
said the source.
UKTV failed to meet ITC requirements on two counts and Virgin on three
counts relating to the quality of their proposed programming.
