ISBA to oppose ITV merger

The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (IBSA) have branded the proposed merger of Carlton and Granada as a potential "disaster" for advertisers and promised to oppose the plan through the Office of Fair Trading.
Bob Wootton, ISBA director of media and advertising sales, accused the executives running Carlton of using a merger to save their own careers.
"In the global media market Carlton and Granada are pygmies - and bringing them together will create a slightly taller pygmy," he said.
"In the long term this is about an escape plan for Carlton executives and the onward sale of ITV. A merger will be a disaster for their customers."
Procter & Gamble, the world's biggest advertiser, are among a number of advertisers to have threatened to turn against the network if a deal goes ahead.
(GB)