UNITED News & Media, the group which owns the Express newspapers and the television stations Anglia and Meridian in Britain, has announced a deal which could propel it to the forefront of digital broadcasting.

The group, chaired by Labour peer Lord Hollick, plans to buy a 30 per cent stake in Digital Television Network (DTN) for up to £120 million over four years.

DTN is one of two groups bidding for a British terrestrial digital licence and United's involvement depends on the bid being successful.

The other bidder is British Digital Broadcasting, the joint venture involving Carlton, Granada and BSkyB.

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) would decide within the next eight weeks which group will be awarded the licence.