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Christmas Pres launched (Page 411) (October 2007)

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MA
Matt Founding member
pad posted:
Quote:
The government today ordered BSkyB to cut its stake in ITV from 17.9% to below 7.5%.

Business secretary John Hutton followed the advice given to him last year by the Competition Commission that the satellite company should sell down its stake.

He also required Sky "not dispose of the shares to an associated person, not to seek or accept representation on the board of ITV and not to reacquire shares in ITV".

Sky spent �940m acquiring the shares in November 2006, at a time when cable rival NTL - now Virgin Media - was hoping to buy ITV.

ITV's share price has tumbled since Sky bought the shares - meaning that Sky is sitting on a loss of around �250m at current prices.

ITV said today that it "warmly welcomed" Hutton's decision, which was widely expected following the commission's ruling.


More at MediaGuardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jan/29/bskyb.itv


Why was it allowed in the first place if it was so controversial?

Also, why is the potential NTL/Virgin Media purchase being used as an excuse for Sky to offset their stake? Surely if NTL/Virgin Media had bought ITV, they would have been accused of the same thing that Sky has been accused of? Why are the rules different for Sky?
NG
noggin Founding member
Matt posted:
pad posted:
Quote:
The government today ordered BSkyB to cut its stake in ITV from 17.9% to below 7.5%.

Business secretary John Hutton followed the advice given to him last year by the Competition Commission that the satellite company should sell down its stake.

He also required Sky "not dispose of the shares to an associated person, not to seek or accept representation on the board of ITV and not to reacquire shares in ITV".

Sky spent �940m acquiring the shares in November 2006, at a time when cable rival NTL - now Virgin Media - was hoping to buy ITV.

ITV's share price has tumbled since Sky bought the shares - meaning that Sky is sitting on a loss of around �250m at current prices.

ITV said today that it "warmly welcomed" Hutton's decision, which was widely expected following the commission's ruling.


More at MediaGuardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jan/29/bskyb.itv


Why was it allowed in the first place if it was so controversial?


You don't have to ask someone before you buy shares - there is nobody who "allows" you to do this. The government response is effectively them saying you're not allowed...

Quote:

Also, why is the potential NTL/Virgin Media purchase being used as an excuse for Sky to offset their stake? Surely if NTL/Virgin Media had bought ITV, they would have been accused of the same thing that Sky has been accused of? Why are the rules different for Sky?


As far as I know NTL/Virgin don't own a large number of newspapers - as News Corp do (and they own a large chunk of BSkyB)- and also the penetration of NTL/Virgin in subscriber terms was much lower. They are a smaller TV operation than BSkyB.
PA
pad
The CRR review began today too. I wonder what'll happen.
PA
pad
In other news, The Royal Today moves to 3.30pm from Monday 11th February, it seems.

That week also, Saturday seems to have more obscure timings (7:20pm for Primeval) yet Sunday is more regular (7:30pm for Wild at Heart, 9:00pm for Kingdom) etc - the opposite of what we've had recently.
SC
SCBNI
pad posted:
In other news, The Royal Today moves to 3.30pm from Monday 11th February, it seems.


UTV have been showing it at 5pm since last Monday and it seems they're keeping it there even though it's being moved on ITV1.
BR
Brekkie
Do we know what sort of ratings ITV1 is getting after News at Ten?


Considering they've resorted largely to repeating the programmes nobody is watching at 9pm, I can't imagine they're doing that well.
DA
David_02
Brekkie posted:
Do we know what sort of ratings ITV1 is getting after News at Ten?


Considering they've resorted largely to repeating the programmes nobody is watching at 9pm, I can't imagine they're doing that well.


I recall reading figures showing The Palace slipping under a million last week for its repeat showing.

On the other hand Sandbanks did very well when it aired, beating Question Time. So there's an audience there if they bother putting something decent on.
BR
Brekkie
Simon Cowell has withdrawn his backing for ITV's "Rock Rivals" the show where ITV think that if viewers are willing to watch the pantomime which is The X Factor, they're willing to watch a pre-written spoof too.


According to Teletext he doesn't want his name associated with it and his production company have pulled out because of "outlandish and over-fictionalised" storylines.
FA
fanoftv
Brekkie posted:
Simon Cowell has withdrawn his backing for ITV's "Rock Rivals" the show where ITV think that if viewers are willing to watch the pantomime which is The X Factor, they're willing to watch a pre-written spoof too.


According to Teletext he doesn't want his name associated with it and his production company have pulled out because of "outlandish and over-fictionalised" storylines.


Now maybe something 'outlandish and over-fictionalised' would work. As has been said, maybe the palace would have worked better if it was sensationalised, at least it would be talked about.
BR
Brekkie
fanoftv posted:
Now maybe something 'outlandish and over-fictionalised' would work. As has been said, maybe the palace would have worked better if it was sensationalised, at least it would be talked about.



True - but it'll probably end up suffering from quite the same problem, as in the real goings on in The X Factor, just as with Buckingham Palace, are for more interesting than the scripted scandals.
FA
fanoftv
Brekkie posted:
fanoftv posted:
Now maybe something 'outlandish and over-fictionalised' would work. As has been said, maybe the palace would have worked better if it was sensationalised, at least it would be talked about.



True - but it'll probably end up suffering from quite the same problem, as in the real goings on in The X Factor, just as with Buckingham Palace, are for more interesting than the scripted scandals.


Yeah it most probably will be the case.
ITV are trying to be different, but they're not being different enough. The question is should they be risking to try and get to new audience, or should they be copycatting all other channel's successes and going for programmes that they know bring in the viewers and not take any risks at all?
PA
pad
McCutcheon on Echo Beach/Moving Wallpaper:

"Martine McCutcheon has revealed that she is "thrilled" with the success of ITV1's sister shows Moving Wallpaper and Echo Beach.

The actress, who plays both Susan Penwarden and a neurotic version of herself, said bosses were more than happy with the programmes' ratings.

She said: "I'm really thrilled and I know that ITV are really happy with it. Apparently they're really happy with the audience that they've reached, which is a younger audience. I think they're just waiting for it to go from strength to strength, hopefully."

Speaking at the South Bank Show Awards, McCutcheon added that constructive criticism was appreciated, although she insisted that she had not read any reviews herself.

The 31-year-old said: "There's always something that you can enhance on. There's always something that you can do to make a show better and I'm sure the producers and ITV will take on board any relevant comments and make it work."

She added that she is looking forward to shooting more scenes for soap Echo Beach, saying: "We just all want to film together again because we absolutely genuinely got on like a house on fire in Cornwall. I don't think it's ever been the same since we left."

McCutcheon recently signed to front a week-long show dedicated to beauty and anti-aging."

Interesting if true, it'd be great if ITV recommissioned it and gave it a better slot for when younger viewers will be in!

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