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UTV's TV division to be sold to ITV - reports
georgeotm
Posts: 18
Forum Member
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/news/end-of-an-era-as-utv-sells-off-its-television-division-to-itv-31469190.html
Surprise news coming out of Belfast this morning. I never thought I'd see the day where UTV would sell up!
Surprise news coming out of Belfast this morning. I never thought I'd see the day where UTV would sell up!
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I think its more likely UPC ireland will buy UTV Ire, than it will be TV3 and UTV ire, 3e will be scrapped
and I don't see them giving up anytime soon, but neither did I see this with UTV.
I guess it will be just 'ITV Northern Ireland' then with just ITV on the idents.
No more 'its all about U, but its now 'all about I'
Well local production in Wales is almost non-existent by comparison with the TWW and HTV days. But what will happen to Julian Simmons ? Is he included in the deal ?
Doesn't he do weather aswell? He might be put on pan regional weekend weather coverage for NI, Border and Granada (the new Fred Talbot).
Personally, I now think it is only a matter of 'when', not 'if'. In my view, ITV having every single franchise across the UK is their "mission accomplished" moment - victory condition if you will.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ktiJUUBLPo
Not for a long time, they were axed in 2006.
UTV are required to do a minimum of 2 hours per week of non-news regional programming. At the last licence renewal they proposed a reduction to 1.5 hours per week (to bring it in line with ITV Wales & STV) but Ofcom rejected this proposal.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/c3-c5-obligations/statement/statement.pdf
Divesting itself of its TV division it still leaves UTV with a hefty radio business made up of two divisions, Radio Ireland, and Radio Great Britain.
Revenue wise, Radio GB is its healthiest division, with sales of £13.3m in the three months to the end of March this year, compared to Radio Ireland revenue of £4.7m (totaling £18 for the radio divisions) and TV revenue of £11.8m.
I don't think they'll be calling themselves "ITV Northern Ireland". The term "Northern Ireland" is very contentious in that region.
What could it be though? Ulster is a no aswell isn't it?
It will most likely be just 'ITV' on screen but the region will need an official name. Then there's also a matter of the regional news that ITV likes to make its own. So it will probably be 'ITV News 'insert here''.
Not really, BBC Northern Ireland have never had any complaints.
It wasn't that long ago UTV tried to buy STV, the fortunes of the two companies have pretty much reversed since.
The takeover of UTV is very interesting News indeed...considering ITV sold their shares in STV though, I'm not sure that those suspecting a takeover of the entire Network soon are gonna be right? As for the Regional Name, the BBC's Region is 'Northern Ireland' isn't it? The new Region name has surely then got to be ITV 'Northern Ireland'?
I think people are getting confused about ITV mission. There a difference between gaining control of ALL franchise and gaining control of workable franchise. Remember IF ITV comes along it would have a very STRONG fight on its hand to reduce STV opt outs.
I bet Ofcom would make sure Scotland Tonight was kept in place. I bet Holyrood will force somehow keep the three sperate news programmes. IF ITV says it cant afford them, there then be asked how STV manged to afford them and still make a profit.
The there the whole question about Scottish Independence...
Remember people that "PEAK TIME" STV actually provides 4 hours worth of opt outs over the weekday. If you look at the weekends that could raise to 5 hours, during the year.
I hope STV never sell to ITV. Don't like the Idea of an ITV Scotland.
I'm a bit surprised that UTV are selling.
Darren