Bill Gates to buy ITV Digital?

NEWS Microsoft is interested in buying up bankrupt digital TV outfit, ITV Digital. The US software giant is thought to be putting together a consortium to acquire the company, having requested information packs from administrators Deloitte and Touche. The accountancy firm said that Microsoft is one of 60 potential buyers to have come forward so far. If a firm offer fails to emerge this week, Deloitte and Touche will break up ITV Digital and dispose of its assets. Meanwhile, ITV Digital's parent companies, Granada and Carlton, are driving through major management restructures in an attempt to put the digital TV debacle behind them. This morning's FT reports that the two will raise their investment in programming in a bid to hit back at the BBC and take audience share from Channels 4 and 5. It is also being widely reported that merger talks are on again. Negotiations were abandoned earlier this year as Granada and Carlton failed to agree on the structure of a merged entity - and what to do with ITV Digital.