Giving Orient fans a voice
Leyton Orient Fans' Trust
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ITV crisis (summer 2002)
8/5/2003

(This artcle appeared in summer 2002)

LOFT has registered its protest at the behaviour of ITV Digital and its owners, Granada and Carlton, with regard to the current broadcasting contract with the Football League.

Like many others, we are deeply worried that a broadcasting organisation - owned by two of the largest media players in the country - is trying to renege on signed contracts and then, instead of engaging in substantive negotiations about how it can fulfil its legal obligations, seeks to hide behind the wall of administration, claiming it can't meet its obligations and commitments. We feel this is reprehensible.

Furthermore, we believe that for any club to go out of business because of ITV Digital's actions - or the inactions of its owners and backers - would be a tragedy for football and the communities that those clubs represent. Like all Trusts, LOFT is committed to assisting clubs in difficulty and supporting clubs in crisis. We think that it is now more important than ever to show solidarity, particularly when the implications of this crisis will affect all our clubs in one way or another.

Following the recommendations of the Football Supporters Association and the National Federation of Football Supporters' Clubs, we have written to the directors of Granada and Carlton, urging them to ensure that the contract that their company has signed with the Football League is upheld, and we have written to Sports Minister Richard Caborn, and Leyton MP Harry Cohen, asking them to support the Football League in this matter.

As also recommended by the FSA and the NFFSC, we have written to thirteen World Cup sponsors, requesting that they take into account the current situation when considering ITV's World Cup sponsorship package, and asking them to add their weight to the growing disquiet among organisations and individuals to the Carlton and Granada stance.

 





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