CanWest to sell stake in TV3

Round Cable

Link: http://www.rte.ie/business/2006/0116/tv3.html

I wonder would this be a chance for Granada to take control of the whole channel?

mike65

Definitly, its what they want is'nt it? ITV 'Eire'!

Mike.

flogen

How much would that stake be expected to go for anyway?
If I win the Euromillions, and I can afford to, I'll do my best to buy it up and get some homegrown stuff on there.
I promise!

Telefís

How very noble flogen

What an interesting development, though it was only a matter of time. This move was on the cards before when CanWest were reorganising - TV3 survived that time round.

Most certainly looks like Granada will move in for the full 90% now, especially as TV3's begun reporting very nice profits, not least for last year's final quarter I've heard.

As much as we decry some the sh*te put on as part of the ITVisation of the station, I can only see this as being a good move. It will mean that stream of cheap American programming will no longer be so freely available via CanWest Global which is a mjor boost.
Secondly and more importantly, Granada have a strong history of programme making, and are used to operating in a stringent, tightly regulated broadcasting environment in the UK. This can only mean good things for Ireland given the current state of affairs at TV3 - it can only get better.
Also, in the context of a licence renewal in 2007/08, Granada are likely to be much more receptive, if not quite welcoming, to an incresed commitment to home-produced content than CanWest, who operate buy 'em in, churn 'em out operations all over the world.

Broadly good news.

Mossy Monk

less of the american crap that canwest brings in would be good. but more of what ITV show is a bad move imo

flogen

Telef&#237 wrote: »

How very noble flogen

What an interesting development, though it was only a matter of time. This move was on the cards before when CanWest were reorganising - TV3 survived that time round.

Most certainly looks like Granada will move in for the full 90% now, especially as TV3's begun reporting very nice profits, not least for last year's final quarter I've heard.

As much as we decry some the sh*te put on as part of the ITVisation of the station, I can only see this as being a good move. It will mean that stream of cheap American programming will no longer be so freely available via CanWest Global which is a mjor boost.
Secondly and more importantly, Granada have a strong history of programme making, and are used to operating in a stringent, tightly regulated broadcasting environment in the UK. This can only mean good things for Ireland given the current state of affairs at TV3 - it can only get better.
Also, in the context of a licence renewal in 2007/08, Granada are likely to be much more receptive, if not quite welcoming, to an incresed commitment to home-produced content than CanWest, who operate buy 'em in, churn 'em out operations all over the world.

Broadly good news.

Oh I know!

Yeah, it's a bit of a mixed bag, really. 6 of one, half dozen of the other as they say.
CanWest pulling out will mean less US crap, but Granada moving in to take full control will mean more UK content. As it stands I don't understand how tv3 can get any viewers for shows like Coronation St, when UTV air it at the same time, but anyway.
The licence renewal may mean they're forced to make more Irish content, but one thing is for sure, they'll need new offices/studios, apparently TV3 is tiny, just enough room for their news and sport output, and nothing more.

Telefís

Yes, they're a very small operation. Indeed an interesting development arose when they went to make The Weakest Link - they were forced to come crawling over to Montrose for help heh heh

And if anything, surely more studio production is the very least they could invest in given how cheap and easy it is to make. It'd be a start at least, which is why it is surprising such modest facilites were built at the time in 1997. Hopefully Granada, masters of the art, will make some investment in this department. Whilst the production values in TV3 are quite high, their programmes at the end of the day have a very amaterish quality to them by definition of their studios' limited sizes. Having more, and better made studio programmes alone would be a huge boost.

Indeed that's another area Granada could impove in - bring some ruthless British efficiency to Irish production values. Shaming RTÉ into improving their production values would be a major step forward in my book

Yes, more populist UK housewives tat is not exactly an appealing prospect for TV3, but frankly anything is better than the bottom-of-the-barrel series CanWest dredge up from goodness knows where in the US - that muck is by far the worst aspect of TV3, all those bargain basement low-rent heart-string tuggers of dramas, and all the emotional tear-laden tripe they shovel in wherever they can. To be rid of these productions, and more crucially all those feckin slushy promotions for them is reason enough to welcome Granada with open arms!

watty

flogen wrote:

... As it stands I don't understand how tv3 can get any viewers for shows like Coronation St, when UTV air it at the same time, but anyway. ...

The licence renewal may mean they're forced to make more Irish content, but one thing is for sure, they'll need new offices/studios, apparently TV3 is tiny, just enough room for their news and sport output, and nothing more.

The 25% to 35% of viewers who don't get UTV (yet)? The penny hasn't quite dropped with general public that All ITV (5+ regions) and all BBC (8ish + regions) are all free anywhere in Ireland at about a once off 300 Euro.


Licence renewal: We Wish!

DMC

Yes, licence renewal.

Who'd buy a share in a company when its licence is due for renewal in a year or twos time? And I think this is the second time this kite was flown by CanWest in recent years.

bk

DMC wrote:

Yes, licence renewal.

Who'd buy a share in a company when its licence is due for renewal in a year or twos time? And I think this is the second time this kite was flown by CanWest in recent years.

While I don't like TV3. the actual chance of them actually loosing the licence is zero. So no buyer is going to be too worried about that.

DMC

Dont count on that, City Channel and Channel 6 are positioning themselves....

Genghis

I can't understand people welcoming this move. Ever since ITV began to get involved with TV3 it has become more and more a clone of ITV1 in the UK. ITV1 in the UK, imho, has been in decline for some time, focussing on populist tat that guarantee audiences rather than trying to create something. If you are unsure what I mean, just look to some of the "innovation" that ITV now offer:

Coronation St - 5 times a week (up from 2, then 3, then 4, now 5 - talk about diluting quality)

Soapstar Superstar - run for 90 minutes, nine nights in a row. Followed on with hours more content on ITV2. Safe, commercial viewing with text ins every night, even if it doesn't sell ads it probably covers the costs with texts.

I'm a celebrity - ditto.

Sudoko challenge / Quizmania - has turned post-midnight broadcasting on ITV into the worst in satellite "live" TV - text in to win competition.

Do I need to mention Celebrity Fit Club, Supersize Surgery, Police Camera Action, Holiday Showdown (that's just tonights feast of programmes).

There was a time when ITV challenged the BBC with News (ITN, which has also been washed down), Docmentaries (World in Action), Sport (Snooker, top flight football), Sitcoms, Drama, etc. Now I would say that it doesn't even challenge Channel 5 or Sky One.

I am not unrealistic about the world of TV broadcasting. TV3 will be owned by an international broadcaster. But if it has to be anyone, let it not be ITV. Not only becasue they have so little to offer, but also because we can all access it already.

IMHO I would prefer to see Five buying TV3, possibly in conjunction with an Irish bidder (Setanta, Channel Six, some of the radio holdings companies in Ireland) - at least then we'd have more choice.

bk

DMC wrote:

Dont count on that, City Channel and Channel 6 are positioning themselves....

They are positioning themselves for access and a good position on DTT and the other Digital platforms. They don't expect to get the analogue license. Everyone knows that the government doesn't have the balls to make such a drastic change. Just look at how Eircom has comreg and the government running scared in the telco/bb market.

Telefís

Yes, I can't a change being made, nor Granada being concerned over the pending licence renewal. It's still a miracle we have commercial television in this country at all so I doubt anyone will want to jeopardise that.

Fair enough points about ITV Genghis, though outside of the soaps and the one-offs like CelebrityGMOH/Soapstar Superstar there isn't anything worse that Granada can offer us that CanWest didn't. I know, it's such a shame to have to consider TV3 in terms of how bad thigs could be, but I think that's the reality of the commerical television sector in small countries - you're wide open to be eaten up by whoever decides they want you.
Interesting that CanWest wanted to buy Five a few years ago too, but either weren't allowed or didn't have the money...

TV3 is already overrun by ITV content - that's not going to change regardless of who takes over, so it might as well be a relatively responsible broadcaster like Granada. ITV most certainly has lowered its standards over the past five years - I don't watch any of their content except the odd Coronation Street. Even News is tabloidy, ridiculously contrived and packed full of gimmicks. A well matched sister for TV3 News so.

DMC

bk wrote:

They are positioning themselves for access and a good position on DTT and the other Digital platforms. They don't expect to get the analogue license. Everyone knows that the government doesn't have the balls to make such a drastic change. Just look at how Eircom has comreg and the government running scared in the telco/bb market.

Television is mildly different in this regard. The government don't control this decision. The BCI does, and in the past have changed the status quo. NWR thought they were safe until the BCI gave the ILR franchise for Sligo/North Leitrim/South Donegal to Ocean FM.

And I'm know that the BCI will look very favourably on a challenger that will up the home produced content on the commercial channel.

Would UTV throw their hat in the ring for the TV3 licence?

BowWow

Anyone any thoughts on TV3 going FTA on satellite if Granada purchase the Canwest shareholding?

Mossy Monk

not until their contract with Sky is up in 2008

byte

What if UTV bid for CanWest's 45% stake?
Hehe, that would fairly rile Granada!

What would happen if Granada decided to sell their 45% too! :eek: Unlikely but still..

robert muldoon

byte wrote:

What if UTV bid for CanWest's 45% stake?
Hehe, that would fairly rile Granada!

What would happen if Granada decided to sell their 45% too! :eek: Unlikely but still..

Ar'nt UTV mad keen to get into the ROI Sky platform? so why not buy granada 's share with Can West and there it is!. It sounds the obvious course to me,they are cash rich

Telefís

That is what they wanted to do when TV3 started up but were prevented in doing so by the former BCI as they would only allow UTV to take a stake if they pulled their existing UTV channel from cable in Ireland to give TV3 a chance to establish themselves.
Suffice to say the penetration into the Republic was was far more valuable to them than a 30% stake in TV3 so they angrily withdrew.

Things have changed a lot since then though - apparently the chitter chatter within TV3 is that it will either be ITV plc (Granada) or UTV - hardly a revelation now, but at least it seems as if there's nobody else on the cards to swoop in.

Elmo

Well it will be nice to see the end of the bad American Imports on TV3 that come from Canwest however its not like ITV produce the best in British TV. Soap, Reality TV and Some dreadful miniseries starring Caroline Quinntin.

But it all depends on weather or not ITV want TV3. Also should ITV take the stake in TV3 won't the Minister and BCI have to agree to the sale?

I think it is strange that they have first go at buying the rights before they have any agreement coming from the BCI and the Minister.

Hopefully ITV will look at it more as a national station than a company they can milk for all its worth.

flogen

Listening to Eamon Dunphy there and Setanta are one of the names tied to the deal, I think this would interest me the most, however I wonder if they can just do sport or have they got anything else up their sleeves?
Apparently they now have the rights to the next Rugby World Cup, beating RTE to it, which means they have cash to spare, they were also linked to NTL when it was on the rocks....
interesting.
Also mentioned, Stockbrokers Goodbodys put the state at around €80-€90million, which means that I should be able to afford it with my euromillions win!

Mossy Monk

flogen wrote:

they now have the rights to the next Rugby World Cup, beating RTE to it

praise jesus for foreign channels that will also be showing this event

Elmo

Well if Setanta get involved they will at least have some interest in Irish Productions.

If they do, Tervor Welsh and co. may have to pack up their desks. Economies of Scale and all that.

Our man in Havana

Elmo wrote:

Well if Setanta get involved they will at least have some interest in Irish Productions.

If they do, Tervor Welsh and co. may have to pack up their desks. Economies of Scale and all that.

Claire Byrne and that NZ yoke can follow him out the door!

Mossy Monk

Trevor Welsh off the tv would never be a bad thing

DMC

flogen wrote:

Apparently they now have the rights to the next Rugby World Cup, beating RTE to it, which means they have cash to spare, they were also linked to NTL when it was on the rocks....

The games involving Ireland in the Rugby World Cup are on the protected sports list.

I don't see anywhere that Setanta have the RWC, got a link? They do have the North American rights, iirc...

bk

flogen wrote:

Apparently they now have the rights to the next Rugby World Cup, beating RTE to it,

I hope not, they'll only destroy it with cheap production values like they did when they took over Formula 1 from RTE. I never watch F1 on Setanta, I always watch UTV and now it looks like I'll be watching Rugby on BBC.

Setanta is the worst plague to ever hit the Irish TV scene.

DMC

ITV still have the RWC, btw, long term deal.

flogen

DMC wrote:

The games involving Ireland in the Rugby World Cup are on the protected sports list.

I don't see anywhere that Setanta have the RWC, got a link? They do have the North American rights, iirc...

Sorry, just heard it mentioned on the eamon dunphy show during the week, he said he read it in the Irish Times, I didn't read it myself though.

DMC

And Matt Cooper mentioned it this evening. His guest was moderatly clueless, though.