The Murdoch Empire and the Collapse of ITV Digital

[Bellend Sebastian]

Personally I think all the stuff about media ethics going on at the minute is one of the biggest stories of our time, although to the general public and their appetite for shit newspapers and even shitter television, it seems of little interest at best. That won't stop me banging on about it, though.

On top of everything else that we seem to be able to blame Rupert Murdoch for, we can now add Leicester City's administration to the list, if the credible sounding findings of last night's Panorama are to be believed. In short, the programme explores how a company owned by News International paid hackers to break the encryption of the subscription cards for On Digital (a pay TV rival of Sky that was re-launched as ITV Digital) and post how to do it on the internet, leading to tens of thousands of people being able to watch it for free and it collapsing as a result. Anyone that can remember the events of the time will recall that the collapse of ITV Digital and in turn its broadcasting contract with the Football League played a big part in Leicester City's financial woes that quickly led to administration, and all the fun associated with that.

For some reason, NI lawyers tried to stop the broadcast of the programme going ahead.

Thanks a lot, Rupert

[The Doctor]

Personally I think all the stuff about media ethics going on at the minute is one of the biggest stories of our time, although to the general public and their appetite for shit newspapers and even shitter television, it seems of little interest at best. That won't stop me banging on about it, though.

On top of everything else that we seem to be able to blame Rupert Murdoch for, we can now add Leicester City's administration to the list, if the credible sounding findings of last night's Panorama are to be believed. In short, the programme explores how a company owned by News International paid hackers to break the encryption of the subscription cards for On Digital (a pay TV rival of Sky that was re-launched as ITV Digital) and post how to do it on the internet, leading to tens of thousands of people being able to watch it for free and it collapsing as a result. Anyone that can remember the events of the time will recall that the collapse of ITV Digital and in turn its broadcasting contract with the Football League played a big part in Leicester City's financial woes that quickly led to administration, and all the fun associated with that.

For some reason, NI lawyers tried to stop the broadcast of the programme going ahead.

Thanks a lot, Rupert

I wonder why?

What disappoints me most is that I don't really feel anything in response to those revelations, the sleazy, underhand practises have long been NI forte, it no longer comes as a surprise.

[21st Century Fox]

How many more scandals can he survive before he's deemed unfit to broadcast in this country?!

[Bellend Sebastian]

How many more scandals can he survive before he's deemed unfit to broadcast in this country?!

I'm hoping that this latest stuff does the trick, but the crafty old sod does unfortunately seem to have a knack of surviving stuff like this (probably due to the massively resourced legal team he has).

I'm still trying to blame my scratched kitchen worktops and dodgy clutch in my car on him, no luck as yet

[Corky]

I remember the ITV Digital Channel.

Football League matches on Thursday and Sunday nights.

Marvellous, jumpers for goalposts.

[Greg2607]

if sky were banned from broadcasting in the UK, the premier league and every single team in it would go bust. end of.

[Bellend Sebastian]

if sky were banned from broadcasting in the UK, the premier league and every single team in it would go bust. end of.

It's a lovely idea, but sadly I don't think it's on the cards - the issue is whether Rupert and his delightful family can have control of it

[mancunianfox]

if sky were banned from broadcasting in the UK, the premier league and every single team in it would go bust. end of.

It's not a case of sky going bust but News International's 39% share in the company. No risk of Sky going bust while it still makes money!

[Tielemans63]

How many more scandals can he survive before he's deemed unfit to broadcast in this country?!

When you own a good percentage of the media outlets in the country who's going to stop you? He's probably more powerful than the government which makes it a tricky one. I agree that it's disgusting though.