A firm owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp used computer-hacking to ensure the downfall of the biggest rival to his TV company Sky, a documentary has claimed.

Panorama alleged that hacked information about ITV’s pay-TV outfit, ONdigital, was leaked, allowing people to clone its smart cards and get free access to its channels.

The programme claimed that the hacking and leak were carried out by NDS – a software company that manufactured the smart cards for both Sky and ONdigital.