ITV Merger

watty · 08-10-2003 2:59pm #1

BBC comment:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/10_october/07/bbcstatement_merger.shtml

Unfortunately for the origianl concept of ITV the merger is needed to provide competition to BSkyB. Greg Dyke in a recent speech suggested this.

Scottish, Grampian, Channel and Ulster are the last "independant" franchises of the 15 ITV regions.

Hopefully the cost savings will be translated into better and more ITV produced programs as promised.

Elmo · 08-10-2003 9:38pm

This could of course mean the end of Irish TV.

With little enough Irish TV around, the ITV merger could mean less and less Irish TV as ITV (the new owner of TV3) will note that its most profitable franchise comes from Northern Ireland and it relies heavely on the republic's viewers.

Hopefully the cost savings will be translated into better and more ITV produced programs as promised.

More then likely Coronation Street and Emmerdale start going out 7 nights a week on ITV.

SRB · 09-10-2003 6:25am

Elmo,
UTV have always been a bit of a thorn in the side of Granada and Carlton as they tend to "do their own thing". They are, as Watty points out independant of the new "ITV".
I doubt Carlton and Granada would want to promote UTV over TV3 as they don't see any of UTV's profits !

Elmo · 09-10-2003 11:09am

That's not what I mean.

TV3 covers The Republic. And you can get it in the north.

Granada and Carlton now ITV own 45% of TV3.

If anyone just wants to look at how well UTV does in the South.

So I thing ITV's Irish leg will now compete more heavely with UTV.

As they will poss have many of the same rights.

I thing ITV will be interested in having UTV's 10% Irish viewership.

10% + 15% = 25% = MOST POPULAR TV CHANNEL IN IRELAND.

And then they can move in on UTV.

Maybe Canwest will sell their stake in UTV to ITV????????

Go Figure! · 09-10-2003 3:57pm

My only hope with regard to the ITV Merger is that the new company might finally take over UTV in Northern Ireland and that we might finally get ITV1 in Ireland which has been my dream for a long time. I cannot put into words how much I hate UTV.

p.s Give us ITV2 as well!

SRB · 09-10-2003 4:05pm

If they took over UTV (and I wouldn't hold out for that) the last thing they would do is run UTV head to head with TV3. You'd be more likely to see TV3 become the main Irish channel and UTV operated as the "ITV 1 Northern Ireland", with News staying Local and all other output played out from London. Much the way other ITV regions are at present.

Elmo · 09-10-2003 7:45pm

If they took over UTV (and I wouldn't hold out for that) the last thing they would do is run UTV head to head with TV3.

UTV and TV3 already compete.

I wouldn't make much of a differance if TV3 took UTV's Audience as The New ITV company would have more of an audience then its NI franchise. And since they want to get bigger they might as well make UTV unprofitable and thus merge UTV and TV3 into ITV Ireland.

p.s Give us ITV2 as well!

I am not a huge fan of ITV anyway even if you get rid of the UTV output (Are You Being Framed :eek:

:mad: )

SRB · 09-10-2003 8:43pm

UTV and TV3 already compete.

Yes, because they are two seperate companies.

I wouldn't make much of a differance if TV3 took UTV's Audience as The New ITV company would have more of an audience then its NI franchise.

As I said, UTV would probably become ITV 1 Northern Ireland.

And since they want to get bigger they might as well make UTV unprofitable and thus merge UTV and TV3 into ITV Ireland.

That would be very unlikely to happen as one is a UK franchise the other an Irish one.

Mossy Monk · 09-10-2003 11:01pm

this could mean the Bill to a bigger audience via TV3 which is always good news

Elmo · 10-10-2003 11:06pm

this could mean the Bill to a bigger audience via TV3 which is always good news

Shudder And shudder Once more. I have to put up with Emmerdale never mind The Bill.

god I just hate ITV half assed attemps at making good crime drama.

At least DCI Tennison is coming back

:
:
:
:
:

Ok fine Prime Suspect is getting a new series.

Anyway are the repeats on RTE One not good enough for you.

That would be very unlikely to happen as one is a UK franchise the other an Irish one.

Uuuuu so TV3 is an Irish Franchise of ITV, glad to see someones glad to admit it.

Sure they could always have the National News From the ITV News Centre and then local News from the Provances.

Mossy Monk · 11-10-2003 2:45am

Originally posted by Elmo
Anyway are the repeats on RTE One not good enough for you

no. ITV sometimes go through periods of dodgyness on my telly and a nice stable channel would be nice. RTÉ couldnt be arsed to show the new episodes and shove it on at 5.30pm as filler material :mad: :mad:

SRB · 11-10-2003 10:07am

That would be very unlikely to happen as one is a UK franchise the other an Irish one.

Uuuuu so TV3 is an Irish Franchise of ITV, glad to see someones glad to admit it.

No, what I meant is that TV3 is broadcasting under an Irish Issued License, in the Republic of Ireland. UTV is broadcasting under a UK Issued License, in the UK.

Elmo · 12-10-2003 3:52pm

Note The Sunday Indos Business Article Today.

Just to point it out, It's what I see happening.

Not a good thing.

We need an Indigious Channel that is willing to compete with RTE's home produced programming, not just their Imports. If I want British TV I will watch British TV.

So far TV3 have only set upon The Late Late Show. (After 5 years of nothing)

Which isn't good for Either RTE One or TV3 as more and more people are flicking during the add breaks thus no one sees the adds which is what makes money for both companies. I don't think I would Advertise on The Late Late Or Dunphy.

Go Figure! · 12-10-2003 4:13pm

I completely agree with Elmo I don't think that TV3 should be competing with UTV at all and should concentrate on beating RTE. It is after all an Irish Station! I would still like to see my British programming however directly from ITV 1 rather then through UTV as I have said before.

Elmo · 12-10-2003 10:34pm

I completely agree with Elmo I don't think that TV3 should be competing with UTV at all and should concentrate on beating RTE.

I dont think its about beating RTE.

I think its about providing an Irish Alternative outside RTE One and TG4.

The Irish Channels should compete with The Brit channels more so then themselfs.

The Brit channels should just be an Option, rather then a main choice.

SRB · 13-10-2003 12:00am

Note The Sunday Indos Business Article Today.

Just to point it out, It's what I see happening.

Not a good thing.

For those of us who didn't/can't see the Article what was it about ?

DMC · 13-10-2003 6:45am

If it was from derriré of Shane Ross, I don't wanna know.

Elmo · 13-10-2003 12:14pm

I post it up when I get home.

ITV Merger

Comments