Commission européenne, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Bruxelles, BELGIQUE  
Europese Commissie, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Brussel,   BELGIË  
 
Tel: +32 229 -91111. Fax: +32 229 -64301. E -mail: COMP -MERGER -REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu . 
  EUROPEAN COMMISSION  
Brussels , 13.10.2021  
C(2021 ) 7492 final  
PUBLIC VERSION  
Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited  
Fieldfisher LLP, Riverbank House,  
2 Swan Lane  
EC4R 3TT - London  
United Kingdom  
 
ITV Network Limited  
2 Waterhouse Square, 140 Holborn 
EC1N 2AE - London  
United Kingdom  
 
Channel Four Television Corporation  
124 Horseferry Road  
SW1P 2TX - London  
United Kingdom  
 
British Broadcasting Corporation  
201 Wood Lane  
W12 7TS - London  
United Kingdom  
Subject : Case M.10184 - CHANNEL 5 / BBC / ITV / CHANNEL 4 / DIGITAL UK  
Commission decision pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation 
(EC) No 139/20041 and Article 57 of the Agreement on the European 
Economic Area2  
Dear Sir or Madam,  
1. On 15 September 2021 , the European Commission received notification of a proposed 
concentration pursuant to Article 4 of the Merger  Regulation by which  Channel 5 
Broadcasting Limited (‘Channel 5’, United Kingdom)  acquires  joint control of Digital 
UK Limited (‘Digital UK’, United Kingdom), a long with Digital UK ’s current 
controlling member s, the British Broadcasting Corporation (‘ BBC ’, United Kingdon) , 
                                                 
1 OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 ( the ‘Merger Regulation ’). With effect from 1 December 2009,  the Treaty on 
the Functioning of the European Union ( ‘TFEU ’) has introduced certain changes, such as the 
replacement of ‘Community ’ by ‘Union ’ and ‘common market ’ by ‘internal market ’. The terminology 
of the TFEU will be used throughout this decision.  
2  OJ L 1, 3.1.199 4, p.  3 (the ‘EEA Agreement ’). 

 
2 ITV Network Limited (‘ ITV’, United Kingdom) , and Channel Four Television 
Corporation (‘ Channel 4 ’, United Kingdom) , by way of conclusion of a  Members 
Agreement .3 
2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:  
 For Channel 5:  free-to-air (“ FTA”) TV network in the UK operating FTA TV 
channels as well as video -on-demand (“ VOD ”) services. Channel 5 is also a 
shareholder in YouView, which  provides a hybrid DTT -IP service retailed by BT 
Group , Channel 5 is indirect ly wholly owned by ViacomCBS Inc. (‘Viacom’, 
U.S.) , the latter being solely controlled by National Amusements, Inc. (‘NAI’, 
U.S.) , 
 for BBC: public sector broadcaster providing a w ide range of TV and radio 
channels as well as iPlayer and other on -demand services which are accessible to 
licence fee payers throughout the UK through a variety of platforms and devices,  
 for ITV: integrated producer broadcaster, creates, owns and distribu tes high -
quality content on multiple platforms globally. It broadcasts a large portfolio of 
commercial channels  including the main ITV channel,  
 for Channel 4: publicly -owned and commercially -funded UK public service 
broadcaster which operates a portfolio o f channels accessible on a free to view 
basis via a variety of platforms and devices,  
 for Digital UK: provider of services to enable an FTA broadcast over a DTT 
network (Freeview) and IP (internet) delivered distribution (Freeview Play) for 
audio -visual co ntent in the UK.  
3. After examination of the notification, the European Commission has concluded that 
the notified operation falls within the scope of the Merger  Regulation  and of 
paragraph 5 (a) and 5 (b) of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for 
treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 .4 
4. For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified procedure, the European 
Commission has decided not to oppose the no tified operation and to declare it 
compatible with the internal market and with the EEA Agreement. This decision is 
adopted in application of Article 6(1)(b) of the Merger  Regulation  and Article 57 of 
the EEA Agreement . 
For the Commission  
 
 
(Signed)  
Olivier GUERSENT  
Director -General  
 
                                                 
3  Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No C  390, 27.09.2021 , p. 15. 
4  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5 .