United News in digital TV deal

UNITED News & Media, the group which owns the Express newspapers and the television stations Anglia and Meridian in Britain…

UNITED News & Media, the group which owns the Express newspapers and the television stations Anglia and Meridian in Britain, has announced a deal which could propel it to the forefront of digital broadcasting.

The group, chaired by Labour peer Lord Hollick, plans to buy a 30 per cent stake in Digital Television Network (DTN) for up to £120 million over four years.

DTN is one of two groups bidding for a British terrestrial digital licence and United's involvement depends on the bid being successful.

The other bidder is British Digital Broadcasting, the joint venture involving Carlton, Granada and BSkyB.

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The Independent Television Commission (ITC) would decide within the next eight weeks which group will be awarded the licence.