Murdoch denies hand in Grade's move to ITV

BSkyB chief executive James Murdoch has denied he had anything to do with the move by Michael Grade to leave the BBC to join ITV.

Speaking at an Ofcom conference today he said BSkyB was keen for the ITV board to progress in appointing someone, but said: "Did I have a role in his appointment? No, I did not. I found out when everyone else did."

"I know Michael, I imagine I will see him soon. I will be contacting the investor relations department shortly," he added.

He also challenged suggestions that BSkyB was trying to control ITV. "We do not seek nor have any material influence there and don't seek any special consideration," he said.

Murdoch also spoke out about regulation in the industry, saying that in the past, regulation had been an elitist and authoritarian force and, in the present, should only be used to protect consumers from actual harm.

He said: "A free market produces the best outcomes. That's not a controversial principle these days. Regulators must act with deliberation and care otherwise we will be in a territory of frequent and ill-judged intervention."

"In this converged world, the best approach for a regulator is to watch the market carefully, deal with real harm when it occurs, and make sure that the public interest really means what it says," he added.

Ofcom last week invited submissions on whether BSkyB's acquisition of 17.9% of ITV marked a "change in control" that could impact on the terrestrial broadcaster's programming, saying the inquiry would take six weeks. The Office of Fair Trading will also examine the implications of the deal.