ITV is significantly closer to a change in the CRR rules which govern how much it can charge for ads, after the Office of Fair Trading officially advised the Competition Commission to consider making changes.
The Contract Rights Renewal Undertakings were introduced at the time of the Carlton and Granada merger in 2003, in order to prevent ITV1 from abusing its dominant position in the ad market – which has since weakened with the growth of new digital channels.
The OFT said this morning that although ITV1’s market position has declined, it is still “almost the only large provider” of very large commercial audiences and that the detrimental effects of the 2003 merger may therefore “not have been eroded completely”.
However, it has not advised the Competition Commission that is should definitely make changes – instead suggesting it considers “whether any alternatives to the current remedy would now be effective or if CRR should stay as it is”.
OFT chief executive John Fingleton said: “Changes in ITV1’s market position and programme delivery since CRR was introduced in 2003 mean it is now time to take another look at it.
Read full article at: broadcastnow.co.uk
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