ITV Digital put into liquidation

ITV Digital, the failed pay-TV service, has been placed into liquidation, leaving behind debts of about £1.25bn ($1.9bn).

A spokesman for the liquidators said the main creditors who would lose out were BSkyB, the Football League and the transmitter operator Castle Communications.

ITV Digital collapsed earlier this year after it failed to attract enough viewers after having landed the expensive rights to broadcast Nationwide Football League matches.

The company's owners, Granada and Carlton, spent more than £1bn on the service in an attempt to set up an alternative digital service to BSkyB.

The liquidators said ITV Digital was left with assets of £27.3m.

Rights row

ITV Digital went into administration during spring after it failed to renegotiate its contract with the Football League.

It had paid £315m for the rights to broadcast League matches, starting from 2001/02 season.

But after making the first payment, it soon became apparent that the company would struggle to pay the remaining £178.5m owed to the League.

Administrators shut the company down after no buyer emerged for the business.

After ITV digital collapsed, the League took Granada and Carlton to court to try and make them foot the bill, but its attempt failed.