Rumours of RTL takeover of Channel 4

RTL are rumoured to be considering a takeover of Channel 4 according to a report in the Sunday papers.

A report in the Sunday Times states that RTL, who own rival broadcaster Five, has asked JPMorgan to weigh up a takeover for Channel 4, valued at £50 million.

Four years ago, similar merger talks emerged but they were more related to merging airtime sales houses, although these ended after Five pulled out (see RTL Expresses Interest In Channel 4 And Five Merger).

Channel 4 is reportedly facing financial difficulty and there were reports in October that Channel 4 could be merged with the profitable BBC Worldwide in a move to prevent the broadcaster from going bankrupt.

The hybrid broadcaster would have represented a significant financial sacrifice for the BBC though, and would have meant its biggest transfer of intellectual property, including the corporation’s Radio Times title and lucrative BBC DVDs business (see Channel 4 could merge with BBC Worldwide).

The BBC were not keen and warned that any merger with the state-owned channel could threaten BBC funding.

Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com