French conglomerate Vivendi last week issued a statement denying that its 24.4 per cent stake in BSkyB meant it exerted any material influence on BSkyB. Vivendi’s comments were made in response to the Competition Commission, which is currently examining it’s shareholding in BSkyB. Vivendi says it has one seat in a 14-person BSkyB board of directors, compared to five seats (including the chairmanship) held by News Corporation.

The statement continued: "Vivendi believes that its stake is evidently not against the public interest. In terms of competition, Vivendi is confident that its shareholding can have no detrimental impact on the UK market. Canal Plus, in which Vivendi owns a stake, broadcasts in a different national market to BSkyB. Canal Plus does not broadcast into the UK, and BSkyB does not supply premium channels in continental Europe."