RTL, the pan-European television group owned by Bertelsmann, has quashed speculation linking it with a takeover move for either Carlton or Granada. It will instead concentrate on developing its Channel 5 subsidiary.
According to a report in the Financial Times, Didier Bellens, RTL chief executive, is set to increase programme spending at the channel in an attempt to lure more viewers to its output. Bellens told the newspaper that RTL would “build rather than buy” channels in the UK and elsewhere. This represents an endorsement of the new policy of consolidation adopted by Bertelsmann’s new chief executive, Gunter Thielen and would seem to rule out a bid for any of the ITV companies.
RTL has a 65% stake in Channel 5 which is finally starting to garner respect in broadcasting circles. It was named best terrestrial station at the Edinburgh International TV Festival and now has a 6.5% share of the UK viewing market. Channel 5 is set to undergo a major rebranding exercise but faces a struggle to hold onto its chief executive, the highly-rated Dawn Airey, who is seen as a future head of ITV.
Bellens has emphasised that RTL is committed to putting more money into Channel 5 and will continue to work with the station’s other shareholder, United Business Media, as long as it retains its stake.
“In Channel 5 we are ready to invest more in programming and I’d prefer to have a partner sharing our view of the investment in programming,” said Bellens. “Up to now, we had no major difficulty with UBM. Out local partners help us. At the moment it is UBM at Channel 5, but it may be another partner if UBM sells, or it could be us taking full control.”
Speaking in Edinburgh at the weekend, Chris Evans, the ex-TV and radio presenter, announced his intention to buy a stake in a British TV channel and UBM’s 35% share in Channel 5 is seen as the most likely target.
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