The British government is expected to say today whether broadcasters Carlton and Granada have met the conditions attached to their merger.
The conditions are aimed at limiting the impact of the tie-up on the television advertising market, and on the three regional ITV franchises that Carlton and Granada do not control.
The safeguards are expected to include a system of 'contract rights renewals', overseen by an independent watchdog, which would limit the combined company's ability to raise the price of advertising slots.
The two firms, which control about 52% of the television advertising market between them, were given permission to join forces last month provided they agreed to a set of 'behavioural remedies.'
