STV and ITV lock horns again

STV, the ITV franchise holder for Scotland, will reportedly launch another legal claim against ITV network relating to spin-offs of hit programs.

Free-to-air broadcaster ITV runs a series of spin-offs of hit shows including The X Factor on its digital channel ITV2.  STV is understood to object on the grounds that it has no ownership stake in that channel and therefore does not get a share of revenues despite part-funding the original The X Factor and other shows that form the basis for the spin-offs. UK press reports over the weekend suggest that STV is looking for between £5m (€5.7m) and £15m in compensation.

The latest spat between ITV and STV follows a series of legal and corporate disagreements between the two last year. The two are locked in a dispute over programming charges after STV decided to opt out of taking several ITV drama series in favor of airing more local programming. A separate argument relates to the use of new media rights deals allegedly agreed without STV’s consent.