Carlton Communications and Granada Media – the dominant shareholders in British commercial television network ITV – have pacified their smaller colleague SMG over the rebranding of terrestrial digital service OnDigital as ITV Digital.
The change of name at the digital broadcaster, which is jointly owned by Carlton and Granada, was not supported by smaller ITV shareholders Ulster Television, Channel Television and SMG, which argued that the rebranding breached the ITV trademark, owned collectively by all ITV broadcasters [WAMN: 11-Jul-01].
SMG has accepted cash compensation from Granada and Carlton, and will now use the ITV Digital brand name. Channel Television is still in negotiations, while Ulster Television’s position is unknown.
News source: CampaignLive (UK)
