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ITV Takeover

Lord Hollick back soon? (January 2005)

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DV
DVB Cornwall
Quote:
ITV higher on bid hopes

Shares in ITV (LSE: ITV.L - news) were up 2 per cent at 113.8p in afternoon trading in London on Friday as investors continued to bet that a bid for the group would be forthcoming.

Reports that Lord Hollick, former chief executive of United Business Media (LSE: UBM.L - news) , had been hired by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, the world’s largest private-equity house to look into a possible taakeover of the commercial broadcaster lifted the shares tio further gains after a strong perform,ace during the trading week.

Lord Hollick was quoted as saying a bid for the television network “would have a nice ring to it”.


from ft.com

What do others think of this possibility?
BO
boring_user_name
Well, at least KKR isn't a typical investment company. In fact, I welcome a takeover; especially if it results in new management! Charles Allen and his cronies really should go.
AL
Allan100
how would it change the way we watch "ITV1" (aka CENTRAL). Would regions be better off or worse of?
BC
BlackCat Founding member
Well, he set up Meridian (I think?) and then bought Anglia and HTV before dumping the lot on Carlton and Granada, but obviously this is a rather different situation to that so, er, who knows?
MI
Mich Founding member
Hearing this story has reminded me of my first real taste of TV discussion forums, most notably NotBBC, and the endless discussions about who United News and Media were going to sell their franchises to, how little difference it made (although it could have given Carlton the upper hand in the merger and therefore maybe no Charles Allen?).

As far as presentation goes, I don't think it would actually make much of a difference, from memory UNM's regions were as lazy as Granada about presentation, it is strangely enough Carlton that put more effort into presentation and the regions.
MD
Mr D'Arcy
Now this "buying" ITV business.

ITV is basically now just made up of five companies, ITVplc, UTV, SMG, Channel & GMTV.

Does "buying" mean buying ITVplc or striking a deal and scooping up the whole lot?

Will this also mean a change to regional franchise agreements, which are due to be end shortly?

And finally would it spell the end of ITV as we know it?
AL
Allan100
when are the ITV regions up for review? Is it possible ITVplc would lose any?
MD
Mr D'Arcy
That's another thing, will the franchise just carry over again or will they go out to tender causing a huge hole in the ITVplc - no sod it - Granada Emprire
BC
BlackCat Founding member
Allan100 posted:
when are the ITV regions up for review? Is it possible ITVplc would lose any?


I doubt it, especially since the decision will be made by Ofcom-up-Charles-Allen's-arse.
IS
Inspector Sands
TVF posted:
Now this "buying" ITV business.

ITV is basically now just made up of five companies, ITVplc, UTV, SMG, Channel & GMTV.

Does "buying" mean buying ITVplc or striking a deal and scooping up the whole lot?


No, it means buying ITV PLC

Quote:

Will this also mean a change to regional franchise agreements, which are due to be end shortly?


I assume it would be carryon the same, just with diffrent owners
DV
DVB Cornwall
The Observer

Quote:
Media moguls Greg Dyke, Lord Hollick and Stephen Grabiner may launch an audacious £6 billion bid for ITV, City sources said last night. The three work for private equity houses that have held talks about forging an alliance to bid for Britain's largest commercial terrestrial broadcaster.
Dyke, the former BBC director-general who resigned after the Hutton inquiry, and Grabiner, ex-managing director of the Daily Telegraph, advise venture capitalist firm Apax. Hollick, recently appointed to KKR, the US private equity group, said last week that buying back ITV 'would have a nice ring to it. I wouldn't rule anything out'.

The Labour peer used to own the Anglia and Meridian franchises before selling them to Granada at the top of the market in 2000.

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