AB
i wonder if Canwest will be selling it's interests in The Ten Newtwork and Canwest Media Works NZ?
PE
peterrocket
Founding member
UTV would sell it's TV arm, after all it's making itself very lucrative by doing so.
Granada own a share in TV3 at the moment so if UTV bought some more, then that would make UTV more attractive to buy and subsequently give an inroad into ITV Northern Ireland and what potentially could end up being ITV Ireland (well it might not be allowed to rename itself but still)
Whilst TV3 may be sitting it's a highly popular channel so it seems with it's selection of programming from ITV that must make UTV unhappy bunnies since things like X Factor / Soapstar Superstar go out with different numbers on them.
Granada own a share in TV3 at the moment so if UTV bought some more, then that would make UTV more attractive to buy and subsequently give an inroad into ITV Northern Ireland and what potentially could end up being ITV Ireland (well it might not be allowed to rename itself but still)
Whilst TV3 may be sitting it's a highly popular channel so it seems with it's selection of programming from ITV that must make UTV unhappy bunnies since things like X Factor / Soapstar Superstar go out with different numbers on them.
TE
Don't know if I'd describe it as a highly popular channel now - popular yes, but it still only has a 13% share in Ireland, though yes this is slightly more than even RTÉ Two. Compared to what RTÉ One achieves in primetime though it is pittance. TV3 could really make gains here if they bothered with home-production.
It says a lot I think that its market share remains stagnant throughout the day, from dawn to dusk at c.13% - exactly in line with its standardised import-dominated schedule which also changes little through the day. RTÉ Two is little better, as it does almost the same in this respect, albeit of a higher quality.
By contrast RTÉ One's share increases substantially during primetime exactly when home-production increases. No doubt an element is attributable to more successful programmes in general being shown at this time, but largely the home-produced element is key here I think.
All of the most-watched programmes in Ireland are Irish-made. TV3 have made no credible attempt whatever in this respect, and should be forced to come licence renewal. At least ITV plc are more commited to making programmes whereas CanWest is little more than a conveyor belt carrying buy 'em in churn 'em out trash.
Whatever happens, we ought to see improvements on the Irish content side of things, which can only be welcomed, even if the prospect of more ITV tat does rub the sheen off somewhat.
ABC Australia, I think CanWest have stronger, more commited interests in New Zealand. TV3 in Ireland was only a 'bit on the side' so it looks like you might be lumped with them down there for some time yet. This is a purely debt-cancelling move to raise some much-needed capital for CanWest. Ironic they dispose of TV3 just as it's beginning to make some healthy profits.
It says a lot I think that its market share remains stagnant throughout the day, from dawn to dusk at c.13% - exactly in line with its standardised import-dominated schedule which also changes little through the day. RTÉ Two is little better, as it does almost the same in this respect, albeit of a higher quality.
By contrast RTÉ One's share increases substantially during primetime exactly when home-production increases. No doubt an element is attributable to more successful programmes in general being shown at this time, but largely the home-produced element is key here I think.
All of the most-watched programmes in Ireland are Irish-made. TV3 have made no credible attempt whatever in this respect, and should be forced to come licence renewal. At least ITV plc are more commited to making programmes whereas CanWest is little more than a conveyor belt carrying buy 'em in churn 'em out trash.
Whatever happens, we ought to see improvements on the Irish content side of things, which can only be welcomed, even if the prospect of more ITV tat does rub the sheen off somewhat.
ABC Australia, I think CanWest have stronger, more commited interests in New Zealand. TV3 in Ireland was only a 'bit on the side' so it looks like you might be lumped with them down there for some time yet. This is a purely debt-cancelling move to raise some much-needed capital for CanWest. Ironic they dispose of TV3 just as it's beginning to make some healthy profits.
AB
This is all very interesting...
Just to put the cat amongst the pigeons slightly...
Let's say ITV bought the remainder of TV3 and effectively turned it into an affiliate of ITV1, how would that go down in Ireland. I would imagine the political classes would be fairly annoyed, to put it mildly, but would the viewing public mind?
Imagine they showed all ITV1's drama, entertainment and lifestyle... but provided high quality news and current affairs from Dublin and, say, five hours a week of other original Irish programming... and kept Ireland AM instead of GMTV...
Ideas....
Just to put the cat amongst the pigeons slightly...
Let's say ITV bought the remainder of TV3 and effectively turned it into an affiliate of ITV1, how would that go down in Ireland. I would imagine the political classes would be fairly annoyed, to put it mildly, but would the viewing public mind?
Imagine they showed all ITV1's drama, entertainment and lifestyle... but provided high quality news and current affairs from Dublin and, say, five hours a week of other original Irish programming... and kept Ireland AM instead of GMTV...
Ideas....
AB
According to the MediaGuardian website, it's understood that ITV has first refusal on CanWest's stake.
The big question is whether buying TV3 would make commercial sense for ITV. Now TV3 is in profit, I can see why ITV might think of it as a good investment and there would certainly seem to be a lot of potential synergies, to use the City jargon. But it certainly raises interesting topics for discussion too.
I'm sure someone on the forum knows exactly what TV3's licence requirements are. But presumably it might be possible to meet them and still show a greater amount of ITV material.
Glancing at the current TV3 schedule, it appears they currently show Dancing on Ice and Heartbeat at the same time as ITV - as well as Corrie and Emmerdale. But a fair number of other ITV programmes are dotted around the schedule - such as At Home With The Braithwaites - and the number of imports is very high by UK standards.
Would it be legally possible for TV3 to simulcast ITV1 from 0925 to 2230 each day? Irish programming could be shown in place of the ITN News and Tonight with Trevor McDonald... and, of course, during ITV's regional slots and late at night. A few individual programmes might not appeal to Irish tastes or just be "too British" (Britain's Best Back Gardens anyone?) but I'm sure This Morning, Des and Mel and many of ITV's dramas would find new fans in the Republic. Afterall many people in southern Ireland watch them already on UTV or ITV1 Wales.
From a commercial point of view, TV3 could become a bit like an old-fashioned ITV franchise... a spine of high quality network programmes fleshed out with a good range of Irish material.
Of course, if this happened it would put TV3 and UTV into much more direct competition and the consequences could be interesting!
As for the name though, I can't imagine ITV renaming TV3 as "ITV1 Ireland". At least not for some time. That would be far, far more controversial than dropping the regional names here. Afterall the last thing TV3 would want to do is give the impression of being a British broadcaster beaming into Ireland - rather than being an Irish broadcaster which happens to show a lot of British programmes.
In fairness though, a number of UK newspapers now do distinct Irish editions... and ITV could argue that the name "Independent Television" could apply as much in Ireland as it does here. "Independent" of RTE which, historically at least, has always been much, much closer to being part of the Irish state than the BBC is here.
All very interesting...
The big question is whether buying TV3 would make commercial sense for ITV. Now TV3 is in profit, I can see why ITV might think of it as a good investment and there would certainly seem to be a lot of potential synergies, to use the City jargon. But it certainly raises interesting topics for discussion too.
I'm sure someone on the forum knows exactly what TV3's licence requirements are. But presumably it might be possible to meet them and still show a greater amount of ITV material.
Glancing at the current TV3 schedule, it appears they currently show Dancing on Ice and Heartbeat at the same time as ITV - as well as Corrie and Emmerdale. But a fair number of other ITV programmes are dotted around the schedule - such as At Home With The Braithwaites - and the number of imports is very high by UK standards.
Would it be legally possible for TV3 to simulcast ITV1 from 0925 to 2230 each day? Irish programming could be shown in place of the ITN News and Tonight with Trevor McDonald... and, of course, during ITV's regional slots and late at night. A few individual programmes might not appeal to Irish tastes or just be "too British" (Britain's Best Back Gardens anyone?) but I'm sure This Morning, Des and Mel and many of ITV's dramas would find new fans in the Republic. Afterall many people in southern Ireland watch them already on UTV or ITV1 Wales.
From a commercial point of view, TV3 could become a bit like an old-fashioned ITV franchise... a spine of high quality network programmes fleshed out with a good range of Irish material.
Of course, if this happened it would put TV3 and UTV into much more direct competition and the consequences could be interesting!
As for the name though, I can't imagine ITV renaming TV3 as "ITV1 Ireland". At least not for some time. That would be far, far more controversial than dropping the regional names here. Afterall the last thing TV3 would want to do is give the impression of being a British broadcaster beaming into Ireland - rather than being an Irish broadcaster which happens to show a lot of British programmes.
In fairness though, a number of UK newspapers now do distinct Irish editions... and ITV could argue that the name "Independent Television" could apply as much in Ireland as it does here. "Independent" of RTE which, historically at least, has always been much, much closer to being part of the Irish state than the BBC is here.
All very interesting...
WO
If UTV and ITV Wales have such penetration in Southern Ireland what is the point of TV3?
I know a few people can't get UTV or HTV (like my mums family in Bantry, Cork) but surely with a population of only 3 million in the first place, the numbers that can't get either UTV or ITV wales must be tiny.
I know a few people can't get UTV or HTV (like my mums family in Bantry, Cork) but surely with a population of only 3 million in the first place, the numbers that can't get either UTV or ITV wales must be tiny.
MU
In the early days of TV3 ITV was not a shareholder and it did not have as many ITV shows.
Woody_streatham posted:
If UTV and ITV Wales have such penetration in Southern Ireland what is the point of TV3?
I know a few people can't get UTV or HTV (like my mums family in Bantry, Cork) but surely with a population of only 3 million in the first place, the numbers that can't get either UTV or ITV wales must be tiny.
I know a few people can't get UTV or HTV (like my mums family in Bantry, Cork) but surely with a population of only 3 million in the first place, the numbers that can't get either UTV or ITV wales must be tiny.
In the early days of TV3 ITV was not a shareholder and it did not have as many ITV shows.
MU
I think UTV is wholly owned by the management, and the general public shareholders, though I may be wrong.
Brekkie Boy posted:
Do ITV have a stake in UTV?
If so, if ITV PLC don't buy out the shares and UTV do, ITV would still be increasing their stake and possibly technically be the controlling stakeholder.
If so, if ITV PLC don't buy out the shares and UTV do, ITV would still be increasing their stake and possibly technically be the controlling stakeholder.
I think UTV is wholly owned by the management, and the general public shareholders, though I may be wrong.