If Virgin had bought ITV

nicke261192 · 20-03-2007, 17:26

If Virgin had bought ITV would that mean that they would be able to take control of the hole channel and have changed its name to something like VTV? Or would it have remained ITV

Also is there any chance Virgin may still buy ITV?

Just a quick question

Paul · 20-03-2007, 17:31

Sky bought a chunk of it to stop VM from taking a controlling share in it or buying it outright. What would have happened to the channel is speculative.

gadge · 20-03-2007, 17:43

I think its being investigated at the moment about skys antics they seem to be up to their neck in it at the moment.

**Maggy J** · 20-03-2007, 18:37

I doubt anything will be done to clip Sky's wings.

starsailor123uk · 20-03-2007, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

I doubt anything will be done to clip Sky's wings.

unlikely anything will happen to sky unless its in the next six months and the CC work that quick.

Politicans dont upset Murdoch in the run up to an election. The Sun has had and will continue to have influence over a significant voters who cant sway an election.

Expect, albeit annoyingly that

a) VM will have to play the legal game with Sky or

b) Some deal will be struck because pressure from advertisers (media outlets dont cut prices for advertising as it very hard to put prices back up again afterwards) is too great and a status quo type deal is likely to be better than none

fluffychick · 20-03-2007, 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicke261192

If Virgin had bought ITV would that mean that they would be able to take control of the hole channel and have changed its name to something like VTV? Or would it have remained ITV

Also is there any chance Virgin may still buy ITV?

Just a quick question

I can't seem to find the Hole Channel. What channel number is it on? Sound's like it may be of an adult nature.

Horace · 20-03-2007, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicke261192

If Virgin had bought ITV would that mean that they would be able to take control of the hole channel and have changed its name to something like VTV? Or would it have remained ITV

No way! ITV is way too strong a brand in its own right. It'd probably be left as it is with maybe "A Virgin Company" underneath the logo.

nffc · 20-03-2007, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluffychick

I can't seem to find the Hole Channel. What channel number is it on? Sound's like it may be of an adult nature.

Sounds quite

if you ask me, but then, current products of Sheffield schools... i dunno

andygrif · 21-03-2007, 00:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicke261192

If Virgin had bought ITV would that mean that they would be able to take control of the hole channel and have changed its name to something like VTV? Or would it have remained ITV

What that a Freudian slip?

The simple truth is that Virgin didn't offer near enough to the market value of ITV and they had their offer turned down by them.

Whether or not they were planning to make another offer is open to debate, and it's pretty clear that Sky pre-empted this by buying a bit of ITV to stop such a takeover. Actually it stops such a takeover from any one company not just Virgin.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicke261192

Also is there any chance Virgin may still buy ITV?

Who knows? Right now they cannot buy the whole thing unless Sky offered their 17.9% chunk, which is pretty unlikely!

However there is nothing stopping Virgin making an offer to buy some of the 82.1% of remaining shares in the company...so why haven't they?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gadge

I think its being investigated at the moment about skys antics they seem to be up to their neck in it at the moment.

That's open to conjecture; OFCOM has been asked to launch an initial investigation as to whether Sky's purchase constitutes a 'change of control' at ITV, which if it did would then be referred back to the OFT to decide whether that worked against the public interest.

So to claim that they are 'up to their neck' is somewhat misleading - they are having their deal (as happens as a matter of course with many major deals, and would also have happened if Virgin took a large stake in ITV too).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

I doubt anything will be done to clip Sky's wings.

However, of course, the governament pre-emptively 'clipped' the wings of Sky from owning more than a certain amount (20%) of a mainstream terristrial channel. But of course this government does change it's mind on many issues, so none of us can really predict what that outcome will be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by starsailor123uk

unlikely anything will happen to sky unless its in the next six months and the CC work that quick.

I wasn't aware that the Competition Commision had expressed an interest in the situation....I may be wrong on this, but I understood it was Alistair Darling that used a little claus of the Communications Act to refer to OFCOM, who in turn, if they felt there was any justification could refer to the CC.

starsailor123uk · 21-03-2007, 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by andygrif

Who knows? Right now they cannot buy the whole thing unless Sky offered their 17.9% chunk, which is pretty unlikely!

However there is nothing stopping Virgin making an offer to buy some of the 82.1% of remaining shares in the company...so why haven't they?

In theory yes but the reality is no (See Michael Grade Response). For ITV to merge,be taken over or take over another company it requires 75% of shareholders to approve it therefore

a) Based on voting normality of sharholders (similar to General Elections) rarely do more than 75% of all shareholders vote so it would need a full turn out to get it through

b) VM would not wish to takeover ITV but work more closer. I suspect that would have been the outcome of any talks.. collobaration , VOD , joint ventures. All of which are extremely difficult with your main opponents lookingover the shoulder and knowing what you are doing. Sky dont need to have influence in decision making just forewarnings.

AndyCambs · 21-03-2007, 16:09

My guess is that if NTL had taken over ITV - then it would have been to put ITV programmes on the VoD, and also a stronger front to bid for sports packages.

nicke261192 · 21-03-2007, 16:22

VM should charge insane prices for there channels like sky did when they need to renew the contract for them

I think Sky should loose all the Bravo, Living and UKTV channels and everything

Revenge! It is sweet!

AndyCambs · 21-03-2007, 16:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicke261192

VM should charge insane prices for there channels like sky did when they need to renew the contract for them

I think Sky should loose all the Bravo, Living and UKTV channels and everything

Revenge! It is sweet!

Not really, VM can rake in the additional advertising...

nffc · 21-03-2007, 23:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicke261192

VM should charge insane prices for there channels like sky did when they need to renew the contract for them

I think Sky should loose all the Bravo, Living and UKTV channels and everything

Revenge! It is sweet!

Why do you think that VM should charge "insane prices" for "there" [sic] channels? Any sound business reason?

Plus, Bravo, Living, UKTV etc are way way inferior to SSN, Sky 1, etc etc.

**Maggy J** · 22-03-2007, 01:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by nffc

Why do you think that VM should charge "insane prices" for "there" [sic] channels? Any sound business reason?

Plus, Bravo, Living, UKTV etc are way way inferior to SSN, Sky 1, etc etc.

Care to give some reasons for your opinion?

I'd be very interested.