Files show extent of Murdoch lobbying

In retrospect we shouldn't be at all surprised at this sort of lobbying activity, but this helps to further clarify what seemed to be the new strategy when BSkyB announced a while back that it was no longer interested in developing a new free-to-air channel from scratch. From that point onward it was clear that the pay-TV service would be the priority, but Sky still wants the reassurance of a back-up strategy if many more people decide to buy Freeview boxes instead.

Given the option of choosing between setting up a Sky-branded free-to-air channel from scratch - many people still don't trust the Sky brand - and acquiring something with an established audience, it's easy to see why the latter will be a very attractive option, especially as it can be used as a backup plan that's deployable within a very short timescale. Channel Five is also the only one of the five terrestrial channels that is realistically available for purchase without clearing significant regulatory hurdles.