Green light for Arqiva-NGW merger
By Julian Clover
September 1, 2008 11.56 UK
The merger of UK-based transmission companies Arqiva and National Grid Wireless (NGW) is to proceed after the conclusion of the Competition Commission investigation. Undertakings made by Arqiva and NGW, provisionally published in March, have now been accepted by the Commission.
The merger means that the UK’s transmission infrastructure will now be in the hands of a single company ahead of digital switchover. Arqiva had already secured contracts for the BBC’s digital upgrades in addition to contract renewals with ITV and Channel 4.
Tom Bennie, CEO of Arqiva, said the broadcasting industry had accepted the need for a single provider and that competition concerns had been addressed. “The two halves of the UK’s broadcast network can now be united, with financial savings for customers and a consolidated approach to Digital Switch Over. The merged company will have world-class expertise and resources.”
Behavioural undertakings include a 3.25% discount for existing analogue and low-power digital TV contracts on broadcast transmission services and specific fixed-price reductions on all high power digital TV contracts following switchover.
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