ITV in change

its interesting from a tv pres point of view - presumably flextech would be integrated with the itv family of channels - and would give itv plc (well, the post merger company) a stake in uktv alongside the bbc

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the law still (Broadcasting Act 1990 certainly made provision) that Channel 3 licences may only be owned by European companies? NTL is registered in Delaware and listed on NASDAQ. Despite being UK headquatered, run, and it being the place it does all its business, NTL is legally an American company...

Well coming from a company which runs an possibly illegal "lottery" gaming channel, has banished regionality, had crap after crap after crap ident sets, ran a financially-unsafe digital TV platform, sent several football clubs into near-bankruptcy, filled its lineups with soaps and brainless reality shows, runs a right-wing news agenda and brought back classic gameshows and soaps as poor cheap imitations of themselves, does a triflingly small matter of a Thatcherite law matter?

> does a triflingly small matter of a Thatcherite law matter?

This demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of what Thatcher's ideology was all about.

Protectionism was evil as far as Thatcher was concerned. Given that the protectionist agenda was what made ITV what it was in the first place, it would be an appalling irony if ITV was still protected from predation by foreign interests.

Roll on any merger with a US company of ITV. The sooner the better.

There are ways around that - ITV could simply merge with a new UK-based holding company which would also own ntl:Telewest/VirginMedia.

It's hardly a stumbling block

ITV1 to VM1
Coronation St a Virgin Media Production.
VM Central
VM Central News
VM Evening News

Sounds catchy!

NTL's proposal to merge with ITV has raised the possibility of Channel Five owner RTL renewing its interest in the UK's largest ad-funded broadcaster.

The impact of yesterday's news is being absorbed by other potential bidders, who are reviewing their plans, including RTL, which is regarded as the media company most likely to attempt a merger with ITV.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,1944999,00.html

I'd rather have RTL buy it than NTHell

Those quality journalists at The Sun have come to the natural conclusion that all ITV channels will only be available on Cable and you'll have to pay to watch Corrie!

Yes, I read that as well. They really will just write anything.

Yes...the Sun....just read it's article about Nick Griffin walking free, paints him in a VERY favourable light. Well, I suppose it wouldn't want to piss off it's core readership - right wing working class morons who want "those people" out of the UK. I give up.

I'd rather it be the other way. I cannot say for the quality of programmes, but a tie up with NTL:Telewest/ Virgin Media I think would be better, as they would be able to compete better with Sky and overall probably have more money for programmes. Now in terms of content I cannot see them beating Sky at that, say Football for instance, but they'd be a strong competitor in the market I'd have thought.

See it like this

ITV (1-4 etc) + Digital Cable TV business + Telephone Business + Broadband Internet Business + Mobile Phone Business, I wouldn't see anything wrong with that. ITV needs a big parent in order to compete, this would be ideal.