Branson: "Murdoch will influence ITV"

Sir Richard Branson, speaking on BBC One's This Week programme last night, called on MPs to work together to "take a step back and decide if they need to break up the News Corporation 'empire'".

He said: "What I fear is that some of the worst aspects of America could be imported into Britain, particularly if we have one press baron that controls the bulk of British media."

Branson added that James Murdoch and the ITV board are in talks over sharing film and sports rights: "They've been talking about film rights. They've been talking about football rights. As the biggest shareholder, (Murdoch) will have enormous influence over ITV.

"The reason that NTL wanted to buy ITV was to try to have a balance. Murdoch can go out and bid for football rights. It will be very difficult for us to compete."

BSkyB bought 17.9% of ITV last Friday in a move that effectively ended NTL's hopes of taking over the broadcaster. Branson, who is the biggest shareholder in NTL, admitted this had been a "major setback" but that he wanted to get involved in ITV because it "needs some reinvigorating".