ITV threatens legal action if pvt channels brought under BBC licence fee ambit

ITV threatens legal action if pvt channels brought under BBC licence fee ambit

NEW DELHI: British commercial broadcaster ITV has threatened to go to court in case the government implements its proposals to force digital catch-up TV users to purchase a TV licence.

 

The proposals are part of plans to overhaul the funding of BBC, which has recently issued a Green Paper to discuss various issues on how it could improve.

 

As per a Sky News report, ITV CEO Adam Crozier had written to the government expressing concerns over the proposals that will impact broadcasters with a public service broadcasting remit.

 

The terrestrial TV industry as subscription-based services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video will be exempt from the rules.

 

A commercial broadcasting executive told reporters it was ‘wholly unreasonable’ for users of ITV catch-up services to fund the BBC and accused the government of creating an ‘unlevel playing field.’

 

The Green Paper said the BBC’s licence fee will be under severe pressure come 2020-21.