ITV’S principal rivals are gearing up to block any attempt to nominate Stephen Carter, the outgoing Ofcom chief executive, as the successor to Charles Allen at the helm of the commercial broadcaster.

Channel 4, Five, and BSkyB are all unhappy about the idea of Mr Carter, who until last week was Britain’s television regulator, becoming chief executive at ITV in December — the earliest date allowed by his contract at Ofcom.

None was prepared to comment publicly, but all three are understood to believe that Mr Carter is aware of too much sensitive information about their business plans to be allowed to join one of their principal competitors so speedily.

A senior broadcast source said: “There is certainly a concern. We not only routinely share business plans with the regulator, but on occasion we would personally brief Stephen Carter about our plans.”

Mr Carter is one of the favourites to take the helm at ITV if, as is widely expected, Mr Allen signals his departure at next week’s interim results.

The commercial broadcasters may lobby Lord Currie of Marylebone, Ofcom’s chairman, who has the power to extend Mr Carter’s gardening leave by up to six months. That would prevent him joining ITV until June of next year, and that would almost certainly rule him out of the job.

Mr Carter was barred from soliciting for a new job until August 1. After that he went on a family holiday, telling friends last week that he was “focused on going on holiday” when asked about ITV.

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