Thames Bows To Pearson Bid

Thames Television has today bowed to a cash bid from the Pearson Group, allowing it to forge ahead with the proposed takeover.

Pearson, publisher of The Financial Times, offered the television company a £99m deal which was accepted by its controlling shareholder, Thorn EMI.

Confirmation of the takeover means that Thorn will receive 200p a share for its 58.8% stake in Thames.

Thames Television handed its London weekday licence over to Carlton TV on January 1 1993 having lost it in last year’s franchise auction.