MPs want to investigate Sky's ITV deal

MPs and peers met at the House of Commons last night to discuss how best to put pressure on the government to intervene in Sky's purchase of a 17.9% stake in ITV.

MPs from all parties called on trade secretary Alistair Darling to instruct Ofcom to further investigate Sky's stake in ITV.

A Commons motion, tabled by Labour MP John Grogan, was backed by 73 MPs, whose main fear is that Sky's stake will allow it to influence ITV.

Also that the broadcaster will be privilege to information regarding the ITV news contract, up for renewal in 2008. Sky has bid for the contract in the past without success.

Ofcom is currently looking whether Sky's stake constitutes a "change of control" at ITV. If the Office of Fair Trading decides the deal is a "merger", Darling could ask Ofcom to consider broadcasting and cross-media public interest considerations.

But according to the chairman of the all-party parliamentary media group, Austin Mitchell, concerned MPs could hold their own inquiry, and approach culture secretary Tessa Jowell or the chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport committee, John Whittingdale, to consider an investigation.

Mitchell said: "We're very concerned because of the effect this will have on the ecology of broadcasting and the uncertainty about what will happen."