Sky sells ITV stake
From Colin Mann in London

BSkyB has confirmed that it has disposed of a shareholding of approximately 10.4 per cent in ITV plc in accordance with the final undertakings given by Sky to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills relating to Sky’s 17.9 per cent investment in ITV. It was unsuccessful on January 21st with the fourth appeal it had made against a Competition Commission ruling that it must sell down its shareholding to less than 7.5 per cent.
The placing by Sky of 404,362,095 ITV shares with Morgan Stanley Securities Limited at 48.5 pence per ITV share resulted in aggregate consideration of approximately £196 million..............................................more

SES, Albertis spat intensifies
From David Del Valle in Madrid

The dispute between SES Astra and Abertis Telecom over the distribution of DTT via satellite is intensifying, less than two months before the analogue switch-off scheduled for April 3 2010.
The Luxembourg-based company has taken the case to the Spanish Telecommunication Market Commission (CMT) accusing Abertis of abuse of a dominant position in the carriage of the DTT signal. According to Astra, Abertis Telecom, the main shareholder in the Spanish satellite Hispasat, is competing unfairly in the market by charging punitive tariffs that are hindering Astra's development in the DTT business.............................................more