Reports in the weekend press suggest that SMG is considering selling its television arm, which includes both Scottish TV and Grampian TV.
Carlton Communications has already been linked with a bid for the Scottish licences which account for 6% of ITV’s advertising revenues. Granada and Bertelsmann could also be in the running for a takeover north of the border.
SMG’s chairman, Don Cruickshank, told the recent AGM that advertising income would be up 4% in the second quarter of 2002 (see SMG’s Ad Revenue Shows 4% Growth In Q2). Nonetheless, the company remains some £390 million in debt.