TL
Three Lefts Do
ITV should have been a contender for Channel 5.
Why?
Why?, indeed.
Also, a phrase like "should have been a contender" rather implies a scenario where, say, ITV desperately wanted to buy channel 5 (and were perhaps even bookies' favourite to have the winning bid) but were unexpectedly outbid or ruled out by Ofcom (or whatever), to universal shock.
Whereas what's actually happened is that ITV have ruled themselves out, and seem to be basically not interested.
VM
http://on.ft.com/1jGm5gb (free registration required)
Financial Times posted:
A trio of US cable network owners have entered the race to buy Channel 5, the UK television broadcaster owned by media baron Richard Desmond, the FT's Ed Hammond and Matthew Garrahan report.
Viacom, Discovery Communications and Scripps Networks all put forward bids for the company on Thursday, according to people familiar with the process.
The sale also drew an offer from Saban Capital, the media focused private equity group that owns Univision Communications, the largest Spanish-language broadcaster in the US.
The exact value of the first round bids could not be ascertained, but Channel 5 is seeking a sale price of about £700m ($1.17bn). All of the parties involved declined to comment on the process.
Viacom, Discovery Communications and Scripps Networks all put forward bids for the company on Thursday, according to people familiar with the process.
The sale also drew an offer from Saban Capital, the media focused private equity group that owns Univision Communications, the largest Spanish-language broadcaster in the US.
The exact value of the first round bids could not be ascertained, but Channel 5 is seeking a sale price of about £700m ($1.17bn). All of the parties involved declined to comment on the process.
http://on.ft.com/1jGm5gb (free registration required)
JA
Well, Saban must be so impressed with how Power Rangers is doing on Channel 5, that they want to buy the channel to make sure it won't ever drop it! Just kidding, of course with Univision and previously Fox Kids, they have experience in owning TV stations, so this is probably just a way to enter a new market.
DV
Broadcast reporting BSB/Discovery current front runners ....
Discovery and Sky in pole-position to buy C5
20 March, 2014 | By Peter White
A joint bid between Discovery Communications and BSkyB is emerging as a front-runner to buy Channel 5.
The international factual broadcaster and the UK pay-TV operator have teamed up to bid for the Northern & Shell-owned company. Sources picked out the bid as the favourite, but also flagged that the pair will face tough competition from rival bidders, which are thought to include a partnership between NBC Universal and BT.
The sale process is heating up and a deal is expected imminently after the number of companies left in the running was whittled down from an initial 20.
(remainder of article Subscription content)
Discovery and Sky in pole-position to buy C5
20 March, 2014 | By Peter White
A joint bid between Discovery Communications and BSkyB is emerging as a front-runner to buy Channel 5.
The international factual broadcaster and the UK pay-TV operator have teamed up to bid for the Northern & Shell-owned company. Sources picked out the bid as the favourite, but also flagged that the pair will face tough competition from rival bidders, which are thought to include a partnership between NBC Universal and BT.
The sale process is heating up and a deal is expected imminently after the number of companies left in the running was whittled down from an initial 20.
(remainder of article Subscription content)
JA
Google can bypass that paywall, remember.
Research failure there - Discovery already has a Freeview outlet, Quest.
Quote:
DRG parent firm Modern Times Group, MTV-owner Viacom, UKTV-backer Scripps Network and Saban Capital are among the other companies that have lodged bids.
The deal will be the most significant shake up in the UK free-to-air television business in many years and could see Channel 5’s programming budget beefed up, with some industry analysts suggesting it could go from around £80m to closer to £200m.
If Discovery and BSkyB are successful it could mean that the US factual broadcaster has a free-to-air window for its slew of programming – from reality series such as Deadliest Catch and Gold Rush and dramas including Klondike.
BSkyB is understood to be interested from an advertising sales point of view; it would take over C5’s sales operation, which is currently handled by Northern & Shell. Sky recently launched AdSmart that tailors what ad breaks are shown according to a household’s profile and location and would be keen to roll it out further.
Sky is understood to be holding an AdSmart presentation next week.
The deal will be the most significant shake up in the UK free-to-air television business in many years and could see Channel 5’s programming budget beefed up, with some industry analysts suggesting it could go from around £80m to closer to £200m.
If Discovery and BSkyB are successful it could mean that the US factual broadcaster has a free-to-air window for its slew of programming – from reality series such as Deadliest Catch and Gold Rush and dramas including Klondike.
BSkyB is understood to be interested from an advertising sales point of view; it would take over C5’s sales operation, which is currently handled by Northern & Shell. Sky recently launched AdSmart that tailors what ad breaks are shown according to a household’s profile and location and would be keen to roll it out further.
Sky is understood to be holding an AdSmart presentation next week.
AD
For Viacom, Scripps or Discovery, I do wonder if their bids are all financially led. I can't see much synergy between their programming and what they could stick on Channel 5.
NBC/BT is an interesting one and could bring some more good programming to the channel(s). I could see the channel being the home of US tv and branded as such, though you would have to get around keeping and marketing the decent Channel 5 content.
NBC/BT is an interesting one and could bring some more good programming to the channel(s). I could see the channel being the home of US tv and branded as such, though you would have to get around keeping and marketing the decent Channel 5 content.
DV
BT seemingly declaring itself out of the bidding today .....
see here ……..
MEDIA on THEGUARDIAN.COM
01-Apr-2014 @ 18:46
see here ……..
MEDIA on THEGUARDIAN.COM
01-Apr-2014 @ 18:46
DV
Telegraph ... Paywalled report ..... 'Bids way below Desmond's expectations'
The sale of Channel 5 is expected to attract bids of less than half the £700m price tag attached to the broadcaster by its owner Richard Desmond, it can be disclosed.
Any second round bids are likely to be pitched at around £200m or £300m, according to sources, as prospective buyers have been allowed greater access to Channel 5’s accounts following the first round of the auction.
The accounts showed how much Channel 5’s recent financial success has relied on close ties with Mr Desmond’s other assets, such as The Daily Express newspaper and the Health Lottery. The broadcaster is expected to report an operating profit of £70m this year, but sources said scrutiny of its books showed a significant amount of money moving between companies within Mr Desmond’s holding company, Northern & Shell.
Second round bids of around £200m or £300m would represent a major reassessment of Channel 5’s value compared with the first round. It is understood Mr Desmond received indicative bids of around £600m before potential buyers were allowed to see the broadcaster’s accounts in the last two weeks.
The sale of Channel 5 is expected to attract bids of less than half the £700m price tag attached to the broadcaster by its owner Richard Desmond, it can be disclosed.
Any second round bids are likely to be pitched at around £200m or £300m, according to sources, as prospective buyers have been allowed greater access to Channel 5’s accounts following the first round of the auction.
The accounts showed how much Channel 5’s recent financial success has relied on close ties with Mr Desmond’s other assets, such as The Daily Express newspaper and the Health Lottery. The broadcaster is expected to report an operating profit of £70m this year, but sources said scrutiny of its books showed a significant amount of money moving between companies within Mr Desmond’s holding company, Northern & Shell.
Second round bids of around £200m or £300m would represent a major reassessment of Channel 5’s value compared with the first round. It is understood Mr Desmond received indicative bids of around £600m before potential buyers were allowed to see the broadcaster’s accounts in the last two weeks.
RI
I'm surprised the bidders needed to see the accounts to see Channel 5 is not worth £600 - 700m*. Surely a lack of hit programming is a give away. Several posters on many a forum have warned their success was based too much on 'close ties' with Desmond's other brands. They look to have been proven right.
* Yes,many of the bidders are not British but with the Media world being much more international? Though maybe it's just me.
* Yes,many of the bidders are not British but with the Media world being much more international? Though maybe it's just me.