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LONDON -- NTL, the U.K.'s no. 1 cabler, has denied reports that it intends to take a controlling stake in ITV Digital, the troubled pay TV platform co-owned by ITV companies Carlton Communications and Granada Media.

Last week, NTL agreed to carry the ITV Sport Channel, ITV's soon-to-launch premium sports service (Daily Variety, July 12). It is believed NTL and ITV have also discussed the future of ITV Digital in general.

NTL chief exec Barclay Knapp said: "NTL has made no offer to acquire ITV Digital. ITV Digital's discussions with virtually everyone in the industry have been well documented as they have looked for a way to improve their situation."

ITV Digital, until recently called ONdigital, has cost Carlton and Granada �800 million ($1.12 billion) and the outlay is rising. NTL carries $15 billion in debt. And both face a powerful competitor in satcaster BSkyB, far away the market leader in British digital TV with 5 million subs.

NTL and ITV already have close ties in that NTL transmits ITV's terrestrial signals via its national tower network.