AMERICAN TV evangelist Pat Robertson has clinched his #56.5m takeover

of former ITV company TVS Entertainment, it was announced yesterday.

His International Family Entertainment company has beaten the 75%

consent level among TVS Preference shareholders it set itself as a

condition of proceeding with the deal.

IFE, which wants to launch a ''family-orientated'' satellite and cable

company in Britain, is interested in the library of programmes held by

the TVS US offshoot MTM, including Hill Street Blues and St Elsewhere.

The bidder has already secured an overwhelming majority of the

Ordinary shares in TVS, the former ITV franchise holder for the south of

England, whose directors recommended the deal to shareholders.