CTV hopes for early news on its licence

CHANNEL Television wants an early decision from the UK government about the future of its broadcast licence.

Karen Rankine, managing director of CTV's broadcasting division, told a Clydesdale Bank International Institute of Directors lunch that the future of Channel 3 was now in the hands of Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

The Channel 3 and Channel 5 licences expire at the end of 2014.

The regulator, Ofcom, has told the government that it could simply renew the existing licences, auction new licences and launch a competitive process with potential new bidders or extend the current licences for a shorter period. This option could allow for a full review of public service broadcasting as part of a future Communications Bill.

'We hope that a decision will be made sooner rather than later,' said Mrs Rankine.