BBC set to scoop digital TV licence

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) is today expected to reveal the names of the successful parties who will take over the digital terrestrial licence vacated by ITV Digital.
According to a report in the Guardian the winner is believed to be a consortium made up of the BBC and Crown Castle, supported by BSkyB, which has promised to develop an entirely free-to-view package for the nascent platform.

The ITC is believed to have opted for the BBC offering as the safest bet. Conversely it turned down a bid from ITV, thinking the broadcaster to be too big a risk in the wake of its last attempt, the failed ITV Digital.

However, reports suggest the BBC is unlikely to provide viewers with the option of signing up for subscription channels such as Sky Sports - a factor which may hold back adoption of the service.