STV sues ITV in new legal action

STV has dropped several network dramas from its schedule TV dispute 'increasingly heated

Scottish broadcaster STV has launched a fresh legal action against the ITV network in a dispute over new media rights.

STV claims it could be owed up to £12m after ITV entered into commercial agreements without obtaining consent from STV Central and STV North.

It is the latest move in an ongoing battle between the broadcasters.

ITV said the action was "a diversionary tactic to distract from the significant sums which STV owes to ITV".

ITV launched legal proceedings against STV after it decided to drop peak time shows like The Bill.

It claims this was in breach of existing network agreements and is suing STV for a headline total of £38m, which it says it is owed for the dropped programmes.

Other shows taken off STV's schedule include Midsomer Murders, Kingdom, Al Murray's Happy Hour, The Fixer and Doc Martin.

STV has already filed a counter claim for £35m against the larger broadcaster.

ITV's actions are detrimental to STV's brand and business and they are inhibiting our ability to grow as a digital broadcaster Rob Woodward STV chief executive

It has now launched a further court action over the new media rights issue.

In a statement STV said: "Despite the new media rights being acquired and held for the benefit of all Channel 3 licensees, ITV Network and ITV Broadcasting have entered into commercial agreements without obtaining STV's consent.

"These commercial agreements use and exploit new media rights in STV Central and STV North's licence areas."

The broadcaster is seeking an injunction to prevent the companies from entering into any further new media rights agreements without STV's consent.

'Seeking clarity'

STV Group chief executive Rob Woodward said: "ITV is imposing its brand and service within the STV licence area without our consent, and is not operating in the interests of all the Channel 3 licensees.

"ITV's actions are detrimental to STV's brand and business and they are inhibiting our ability to grow as a digital broadcaster.

"We are ultimately seeking clarity on how new media rights can be exploited, and damages for ITV's actions."

He added: "We have tried to resolve this through dialogue with ITV but unfortunately we now have no alternative but to resort to legal action."

An ITV spokesman said: "ITV Network has always entered into agreements for the benefit of all Channel 3 licensees and strongly disputes any allegation by STV to the contrary.

"It is also important to note that STV is already being paid a revenue share on deals which have been struck on behalf of all licensees and therefore any claim that STV has suffered financial loss is baseless."

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