[Brekkie]

I assume ITV/C5 are responsible for their own transmission costs, although don't they have gifted space on the Freeview muxes by being a PSB which would be worth way more than £1k or £10k a year - and certainly a few years ago worth more than £10m a year too.

Agree the 1990s round was a shambles - I imagine there were a few legal challenges, or at least the threat of them, from losing bidders when the ITC just reduced the amount the winners ended up paying.

Although it is somewhat understandable now that the ITV regional licences are just renewed there could still be an argument they'd be value in auctioning off the breakfast slot, though with the current state of the news market it is a case of be careful what you wish for. I guess effectively the C5 licence has been in the hands of three differrent owners too without ever being put out to tender again.