ITV Could Bid For Channel 4 In Run Up To Merger With Five
A senior ITV executive has hinted that the newly-merged ITV could buy Channel 4, should the broadcaster be sold by the Government in the run up to a possible merger with Five.
In a report in today’s Guardian a senior executive is quoted as saying: “If they were pushing for a change in the law to allow a merger, well we would just say we would want to put in a bid too.
He added: “There’s no way Gordon Brown would allow some sort of cosy deal with Channel Five. If it’s up for grabs, there would have to be an orderly auction and we should be allowed to bid – and for that matter anyone else.”
The latest revelation comes after Channel 4 confirmed that exploratory merger talks between Channel 4 and Five had taken place with the possibility of a full merger of the two commercial broadcasters now being discussed (see Channel 4 Confirms Merger Discussions With Five).
Channel 4 is currently protected by its position as a public corporation, meaning that any sale, whether to ITV, Five or any other prospective purchaser, would need to be sanctioned by the Government.
David Peters, broadcast planning director at Carat, believes such a merger is unlikely at best, stating: “I can’t see it getting the go-ahead. Fundamentally it would take ITV into a new era of control over the advertising marketplace. I can only assume they’re just being deliberately provocative. I really can’t see the regulator approving that and, aside from advertisers’ interests, I don’t think it would be in viewers’ interests.”
He added: “It is more logical and acceptable from the point of view of the regulator for Channel 4 and Five to merge, but having said that the likelihood of it happening if anybody’s guess.
The renewed speculation concerning Channel 4 and Five’s future follows the announcement that Five’s deputy chief executive, Nick Milligan, has been appointed managing director of BSkyB’s advertising sales operation (see BSkyB Confirms Milligan To Oversee Advertising Sales Arm).
ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com Channel Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv
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