The European Commission has begun a formal investigation into the British Interactive Broadcasting joint venture between British Telecommunications Plc and British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc, which plans to launch its first digital television and services into the UK by the middle of next year (CI No 3,156). The Midland Bank and Matsushita Electric Co are the other partners in the venture. BSkyB has already agreed to drop its majority stake in the British Digital Broadcasting Consortium, now jointly owned by Carlton Communications Plc and the Granada Group, which holds three digital terrestrial television multiplex licenses from the UK’s Independent Television Authority. BIB is controversially subsidizing the cost of set-top boxes in order to kick start the launch of the service.
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