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BskyB buys 17.9% of ITV

(November 2006)

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SU
Superlez
Whataday posted:
It's important not to lose sight of the fact that they've bought shares in ITV Plc, and not the ITV Network. So if NTL felt threatened by Sky's 17.9% share, they could always buy SMG's television assets before merging.


For the life of me, I fail to see the significance of this. SMG occupy only 6% of the ITV Network. If STV's clout was more considerable within Network Centre, Murdoch would have bought well-nigh on 20% of these.

It's all about stopping anyone taking over ITVplc - NTL are already struggling to find the necessary funds and RTL would need to pay considerably more than the £5 billion that the City media have been quoting in recent days.

As an aside, SMG's share price rose by a princely half-pence on the day - demonstrating that they're not even a two-bit sideshow with regards to the main story.
LU
Luke
Antz posted:
Luke posted:
Antz posted:

Interesting to see Murdoch stick up for ITV - very unusual move.


? he has just spent £940m on a stake in the company. What do you expect him to say?

I understand that, I'm just pointing out that it's interesting to see Murdoch sticking up for ITV (although badly worded I'll admit).


sorry...still don't why it can possibly be seen as interesting or unusual. If I spend a load of money on something (or part of something), of course I am going to extol its virtues!
AN
Ant
Luke posted:
Antz posted:
Luke posted:
Antz posted:

Interesting to see Murdoch stick up for ITV - very unusual move.


? he has just spent £940m on a stake in the company. What do you expect him to say?

I understand that, I'm just pointing out that it's interesting to see Murdoch sticking up for ITV (although badly worded I'll admit).


sorry...still don't why it can possibly be seen as interesting or unusual. If I spend a load of money on something (or part of something), of course I am going to extol its virtues!

I agree. I was (trying to) make the point that it's quite interesting to see Murdoch sticking up for ITV after all these years. Obviously it's no wonder that he has.
RD
Rob Del Monte
bilky asko posted:
I wonder what will happen to GMTVs News Output now...


Do ITV plc own GMTV?
SE
Square Eyes Founding member
Rob Del Monte posted:
bilky asko posted:
I wonder what will happen to GMTVs News Output now...


Do ITV plc own GMTV?


ITV own a 75% stake in GMTV.
NG
noggin Founding member
Antz posted:
Luke posted:
Antz posted:
Luke posted:
Antz posted:

Interesting to see Murdoch stick up for ITV - very unusual move.


? he has just spent £940m on a stake in the company. What do you expect him to say?

I understand that, I'm just pointing out that it's interesting to see Murdoch sticking up for ITV (although badly worded I'll admit).


sorry...still don't why it can possibly be seen as interesting or unusual. If I spend a load of money on something (or part of something), of course I am going to extol its virtues!

I agree. I was (trying to) make the point that it's quite interesting to see Murdoch sticking up for ITV after all these years. Obviously it's no wonder that he has.


Well he did come close to owning LWT in the 70s ISTR - but was prevented from doing so because of his newspaper holdings? (He's been involved in other ITV franchise rounds as well I think - and was historically very interested in getting a piece of the "licence to print money" that ITV once was)
CD
cdukjunkie
noggin posted:
Antz posted:
Luke posted:
Antz posted:
Luke posted:
Antz posted:

Interesting to see Murdoch stick up for ITV - very unusual move.


? he has just spent £940m on a stake in the company. What do you expect him to say?

I understand that, I'm just pointing out that it's interesting to see Murdoch sticking up for ITV (although badly worded I'll admit).


sorry...still don't why it can possibly be seen as interesting or unusual. If I spend a load of money on something (or part of something), of course I am going to extol its virtues!

I agree. I was (trying to) make the point that it's quite interesting to see Murdoch sticking up for ITV after all these years. Obviously it's no wonder that he has.


Well he did come close to owning LWT in the 70s ISTR - but was prevented from doing so because of his newspaper holdings? (He's been involved in other ITV franchise rounds as well I think - and was historically very interested in getting a piece of the "licence to print money" that ITV once was)


Is there any way he can get around the communications act and actually take over ITV himself? Unlikely at the moment it seems, but just wondering?
WH
Whataday Founding member
Superlez posted:
For the life of me, I fail to see the significance of this. SMG occupy only 6% of the ITV Network. If STV's clout was more considerable within Network Centre, Murdoch would have bought well-nigh on 20% of these.


What I mean is, the goal for ITV Plc is to become a national network, including scotland and northern ireland. If NTL snapped these up before the merger, they would be NTL assets rather than ITV (&18% BSKYB) assets.
NG
noggin Founding member
cdukjunkie posted:
noggin posted:
Antz posted:
Luke posted:
Antz posted:
Luke posted:
Antz posted:

Interesting to see Murdoch stick up for ITV - very unusual move.


? he has just spent £940m on a stake in the company. What do you expect him to say?

I understand that, I'm just pointing out that it's interesting to see Murdoch sticking up for ITV (although badly worded I'll admit).


sorry...still don't why it can possibly be seen as interesting or unusual. If I spend a load of money on something (or part of something), of course I am going to extol its virtues!

I agree. I was (trying to) make the point that it's quite interesting to see Murdoch sticking up for ITV after all these years. Obviously it's no wonder that he has.


Well he did come close to owning LWT in the 70s ISTR - but was prevented from doing so because of his newspaper holdings? (He's been involved in other ITV franchise rounds as well I think - and was historically very interested in getting a piece of the "licence to print money" that ITV once was)


Is there any way he can get around the communications act and actually take over ITV himself? Unlikely at the moment it seems, but just wondering?


Think the act means that BSkyB (which is only partially owned by News Corporation - Murdoch's operation) can't own more than 19.9% of ITV plc I believe. I suspect if another branch of News Corp tried buying up other shares this would cause a conflict due to the parent company link with BSkyB?
:-(
A former member
I don;t think an English controled STV wil go down well espacil with the SNP
IS
Inspector Sands
623058 posted:
does this mean SKY also has a bit of ITV debt ?


No, ITV is a Public Limited Company (in fact so is BSkyB) - like all PLCs and non-public limited companies (those with 'Ltd' after their name) the owners are lot liable for the debts of the company.
IS
Inspector Sands
Quote:
> Would be a shame that ITV wouldn't be owned by ITV themselves anymore though. .


ITV was never 'owned by itself' - no company is.

It has many shareholders, some large companies such as banks, others members of the public. BSkyB is just one of the many.

It could be argued that BSkyB has a bigger interest in ITV's future than the banks that it bought the share from, who were just there as institutional investors. It's a very clever move for Sky.... James has obviously learnt a lot from his father

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