York City chairman John Batchelor was today continuing his quest to rescue crisis-hit ITV Digital.

The tycoon, who is heading a team of interested business parties in the hope of bidding for the company, said he was seeking a meeting today with the former owners, Carlton and Granada.

He said he had spoken to the administrators, who had been in touch with the Independent Television Commission on their behalf.

"There are a number of people alongside me, but they've asked me to front the bid because of my business connections," said Mr Batchelor, who took over York City earlier this year after the club was put up for sale.

"Carlton and Granada are being bloody-minded and not talking to anybody. The ball is in their court to get round the table with us.

"I'm seeking to arrange a meeting with them during the course of today. The problem is we've not got long to do it," Mr Batchelor said.

ITV Digital hit the rocks after being unable to attract sufficient viewers to its pay-per-view channels. The pay channels were switched off yesterday, and only the free-to-air channels were still broadcasting today.

The ITV Sport Channel has now been designated as free-to-watch.

Mr Batchelor told the Evening Press he was "undaunted" by ITV Digital's price tag, which could be hundreds of millions of pounds.

The City chairman, who revealed the bid could eventually include people from the worlds of football and motorsport, said a buyout would significantly raise the profile of York City.

Meanwhile, ITV Digital's advertising symbol, Monkey, was today at the centre of a legal tug-of-war.

The cult mascot is embroiled in a custody battle between the administrators and the advertising agency that created him.

Administrators Deloitte & Touche is claiming the woollen ape as a company asset, to be sold off to the highest bidder.

But London-based ad agency Mother says it may still be Monkey's legal owner and has called in lawyers to investigate its claim.

Andy Medd, a partner at Mother, said: "The situation certainly needs to be clarified."

Emma Thoroughgood, spokeswoman for Deloitte & Touch, said: "We do consider that Monkey is an asset, but the situation is being looked into."

Monkey, who starred in a series of commercials with comedian Johnny Vegas for ITV Digital, has attracted interest from a number of companies.

Supermarket chain KwikSave and cider firm Diamond White say they want to use him in their advertisements.

Updated: 11:38 Thursday, May 02, 2002