UK television rights to Casino Royale shaken and stirred between BSKYB and ITV

16-Nov-2006 • Casino Royale

BSkyB has grabbed first UK television broadcasting rights to the new James Bond film, but its chief executive stirred controversy by claiming he had snatched the Bond series from rival broadcaster ITV - reports the Scotsman.

"We've ... secured a long-term agreement with MGM which brings for the first time the Bond franchise to Sky exclusively, starting in 2007 with the current 'Casino Royale' movie, which is a really crucial movie franchise in the UK, and it's been with ITV for years," BSkyB CEO James Murdoch said at an investor conference hosted by Morgan Stanley on Wednesday.

TV took the role of Dr. No, quickly releasing a statement rejecting BSkyB's claims and saying it still had the rights to the lucrative library of secret agent films, which have consistently attracted big audiences.

"The library remains in its entirety and exclusively to ITV," a spokeswoman said.

BSkyB later amended Murdoch's comments to clarify that it had secured the rights only to broadcast the new film "Casino Royale" and future Bond films on its movie channels from next year.

"What we're not saying is that Sky has exclusive rights to the back catalogue of Bond movies," a BSkyB spokesman said. "What we are saying is that Bond will be on Sky Movies for the first time in many years."

ITV added that "Casino Royale", currently in cinemas starring actor Daniel Craig, would be shown on ITV after the Sky first-pay window.

Thanks to `Brokenclaw` for the alert.