Microsoft has refused to comment on press reports that it is considering launching a rescue bid for ITV Digital.

ITV Digital's administrators have enough funds to keep the company going until early this week.

Forum Response: Consumers' Association

Allan Williams, senior policy advisor at the Consumers' Association, told ePolitix.com: "The collapse of ITV Digital is a blow for the company's 1.2 million subscribers and has left them in limbo - able to access free-to-air services but not the premium services they have paid for. Our advice to consumers is to keep their ITV Digital box as it will still allow them access to the free channels.

"ITV Digital's collapse is also a body-blow for the government's plans to switch off the analogue TV signal within its preferred time frame of 2006 to 2010.

"The existence of ITV Digital itself is not essential for switch over, but the survival of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform is. We would like to see the government, the ITC and the free-to-view broadcasters working together to ensure that a strong DTT service remains accessible to consumers. Without this, analogue switch-off may well remain a digital daydream."