Seven days left for ailing ITV Digital

THE battle to save ITV Digital went into extra time today as administrators acting for the ailing broadcaster were given another seven days to strike a deal with the Football League. The League is owed £178.5m as part of its three-year £315m exclusive television rights deal.

However, ITV Digital owners Carlton and Granada have tried to pull the plug on the deal, saying they can't afford to fund it, and they placed the company into administration two weeks ago.

They set aside £20m for the administration period. That money was due to run out today raising fears that ITV Digital might be placed into liquidation, a move that would endanger up to a third of the League's 72 clubs.

But at the High Court this morning administrators Deloitte & Touche said they had enough money to keep the channel on the air for one more week. After that the company would have to be sold off.

On Friday the League rejected the administrators' latest offer of £60m for the remaining two years of the contract. League chief executive David Burns said today he wants at least £100m plus the rights back for the final year of the contract.

A meeting of the clubs' chairmen in Manchester on Thursday is certain to have a huge bearing on what happens next. Failure to secure a deal could clear the way for a £500m claim by the League against Granada and Carlton.

In a statement issued following this morning's hearing Deloitte & Touche said: 'We have advised the court this morning that some progress has been made with certain suppliers and constructive dialogue is ongoing with others. Proposals have been put to the Football League executive which we have been advised will be considered by a meeting of the clubs' chairmen.

'Whilst we have recommended that the process be continued for a further short period to establish finally whether the company can be preserved, we are also preparing the business for sale.'

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