Supplementary written evidence submitted
by STV Group plc
STV has reviewed the transcript of the evidence
given to your Committee on the above date by Michael Grade of
ITV plc.
In relation to the relationship and dispute
between ITV and STV, STV has concerns around the factual accuracy
of a number of comments made by Mr Grade. Consequently, I am extremely
concerned that the Committee has been misled on a number of important
points.
I therefore suggest that STV be afforded the
opportunity to give further evidence to the Committee pertaining
specifically to the points raised on Tuesday. I appreciate that
we have already contributed to your work on local and regional
media but, in light of Mr Grade's evidence now on record which
we consider potentially damaging to STV, it is critical to grant
STV the opportunity to set the record straight.
I hope that this could be accommodated within
your remaining schedule of evidence-gathering on this subject;
if this is not possible, STV would be happy to contribute further
in writing for the Committee's consideration.
The Channel 3 network remains the UK's
pre-eminent commercial public broadcasting service in which there
is a significant public interest. It is vital that any debate
around the licensees is fully and accurately informed.
Rob Woodward
Chief Executive
December 2009
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