Ulster Scots TV ?

Ulsterman 1690

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6168801.stm

Ulster TV, which operates TalkSport, has approached Glasgow-based broadcaster SMG three months after it was rebuffed by its potential partner.

SMG, which owns Scottish Television, said it would put its search for a new chief executive on hold while the merger discussions take place.

A successful tie-up would create a media group worth about £400m. SMG turned down two offers in late August.

Under City rules, UTV is prevented from making another offer until mid-March, although this does not apply if an agreement or recommendation from the board of SMG is forthcoming.

SMG added that good progress was being made on plans to sell outdoor advertising business Primesight and cinema counterpart Pearl & Dean.

Of course they may be forced to flog off one of the radio stations (talksport or Virgin) since IIRC no company can own more than one national commercial station ?

Elmo

Could Virgin Media become part of this group? Since its failed attempt to buy ITV last month prehaps this would be an option for them?

philologos

I still think UTV would remain with the same name in Northern Ireland if such a merger were to take place. But if this would mean that the company would have more power and financial power to invest in other things surely its a good decision.

Richard

http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article2067659.ece

The deal isn't done yet, but they've agree a 54:46 split in UTV's favour and John McCann will be the boss, apparently.

I can't see any drastic changes, but things such as some shared programming, shared overnight continuity and a similar idents style may be on the cards.

As for the company name, what about the Scottish Media and UTV Group? (SMUG) for short?

Or something more sensible like "Celtic Media"/CMG or "Dalriada" after the ancient kingdom?

Ulsterman 1690

Or something more sensible like "Celtic Media"/

Or Rangers media

I think your "Dalriada" option might be a better idea........

Elmo

Or just simple USTV

perhaps SUTV

Richard

Ulsterman 1690 wrote:

Or Rangers media

"Keltic" rather than "Çeltic" :rolleyes: but actually there could well be confusion due to the same spelling as the football team!

watty

A tiny piece of Dalriada still exists in Co. Antrim. Dalriada proves part of Ulster & Scotland had common identity long before any "British" intervention in Ireland. Perhaps it should be revived for those in N.I. and Scotland that want UK independance

Richard

watty wrote:

A tiny piece of Dalriada still exists in Co. Antrim. Dalriada proves part of Ulster & Scotland had common identity long before any "British" intervention in Ireland. Perhaps it should be revived for those in N.I. and Scotland that want UK independance

Not if we have to wear kilts!

There was an interesting letter in "Scotland on Sunday" recently:

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/letters.cfm?id=69902007

It is from Norman Stockton - who is presumably the same Norman Stockton who was UTV's political editor before Ken Reid. He raises a worry which I hadn't thought of that to make SMG profitable it would curtail its network productions

Richard

It's off again - this time it looks like it's for good...

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/28022007/214/smg-ends-utv-merger-talks.html

DMC

Indeed, all off. It appears someone was buying SMG shares quietly on the cheap and built up enough to scupper the deal. I wonder would the finanical authorities look into this?