FFW lands starring role on creation of YouView
Field Fisher Waterhouse’s (FFW) longstanding relationship with the BBC has seen it land the role of chief adviser to a consortium of broadcasting and communications companies on
the launch of TV service YouView.
Andrew Blankfield
YouView will offer a mix of Freeview digital channels and on-demand web-based content, including BBC iPlayer, ITV.com and 4OD via a set-top box when it goes live next year.
FFW represented the consortium, which comprised the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, BT, TalkTalk, Arqiva and Channel 5, on all corporate and tax-structuring elements of the year-long negotiations.
The team was led by corporate head Andrew Blankfield and tax partner Derek Hill, supported by senior associate Carlton Durrant, who worked alongside the companies’
in-house legal teams.
Following its takeover by Northern & Shell earlier this year, Channel 5 was represented by Rosenblatt Solicitors partner John Lovitt.
Blankfield said: “They [the BBC] proposed to the other participants in the venture that, rather than each appointing a separate firm, they should think about appointing one, and recommended us.”
