The ITV Thread

The Cush

political analyst wrote: »

Are there really that many homes that use UPC for TV?

The official figures from Liberty Global, Q1 2015

Total TV Subscribers - 386,500
--- Analogue Cable - 37,500
--- Digital Cable - 321,500
--- MMDS - 27,500

these figures don't include broadband/phone only subscribers who also view the analogue channels without a sub.

L1011

The Cush wrote: »

these figures don't include broadband/phone only subscribers who also view the analogue channels without a sub.

Which I'd suspect is quite significant. I know of many people who use the 16-19 channels they're not meant to know are there with their BB as their "multiroom" with a single Sky+ sub for instance.

Leroy42

All this stuff about licencing is all very interesting, but I'm sure that if members on here know it then UTVI bosses knew it.

However, it still begs the question as to why did they think that launching a channel with no new content, no discernible unique selling point and nothing new to offer was going to have an impact.

We have comments from management now saying they think the whole colour scheme is wrong, too much green and maybe people don't want to see pictures of Donegal!

Coupled with that is the decision by UPC (or whomever made it) to remove UTV from the channels to be replaced by a what is perceived to be a far inferior product and naturally people are going to blame UTVI for wrecking it for them. While UPC may not be everyone 340k+ of potential customers is a large portion to pee off. That is not the best way to start off.

Elmo

They've increased there audience share by 100%, they thought they'd have 10% but 6% is good

iseegirls

Elmo wrote: »

They've increased there audience share by 100%, they thought they'd have 10% but 6% is good

The share was 5.5% in May. Simply not good enough for a channel which has two of the biggest soaps here.

Elmo

iseegirls wrote: »

The share was 5.5% in May. Simply not good enough for a channel which has two of the biggest soaps here.

plus 0.7% for UTV =6.2%

None of the Irish channels are doing well. In Apr RTÉ2 dropped below 5% and only regained in May because of the return of GAA and even then it was only at 7% or so.

TV3 had 8% purely because of BGT.

All UTV Ireland has done is to divide TV3 and UTV Ireland audience, neither have seen any real growth in 2015.

irishfeen

You really have to wonder have UTV made a monumental misjudgment in not buying TV3 and going down the route of a competing station - Liberty/UPC paying €80m for two prime EPG channels, studios, news crews, Champions League rights etc.

The shear size of Liberty in competition to UTV must be very worrying for them.

political analyst

irishfeen wrote: »

You really have to wonder have UTV made a monumental misjudgment in not buying TV3 and going down the route of a competing station - Liberty/UPC paying €80m for two prime EPG channels, studios, news crews, Champions League rights etc.

The shear size of Liberty in competition to UTV must be very worrying for them.

Maybe UTV doesn't have the amount of money that Liberty Global has.

irishfeen

political analyst wrote: »

Maybe UTV doesn't have the amount of money that Liberty Global has.

Well in 2013 -

"On an overall group basis, UTV Media saw revenues dip by 4%, last year, to £107.8m (€128.6m)"

They are big big boys in the industry too! I honestly think UTV thought nobody would come to TV3's rescue (like most of us) and that they eventually would fold - ironically the tables may be turning as UTVI doesn't seem to be making a name for itself in the Irish market.

Banjoxed

irishfeen wrote: »

You really have to wonder have UTV made a monumental misjudgment in not buying TV3 and going down the route of a competing station - Liberty/UPC paying €80m for two prime EPG channels, studios, news crews, Champions League rights etc.

The shear size of Liberty in competition to UTV must be very worrying for them.

"Shear" size - the level of cuts that may be needed in the Irish commercial TV sector :0

irishfeen

Banjoxed wrote: »

"Shear" size - the level of cuts that may be needed in the Irish commercial TV sector :0

Competition would be great though - I'd love to see RTÉ, TV3 (UPC) and UTV going head to head taking eachother on properly.

Sam Russell

It is time for the Government to remove the shackles from RTE - give us a decent RTE News Now, and RTE 3, with proper funding.

And OTV on Saorview.

irishfeen

Sam Russell wrote: »

It is time for the Government to remove the shackles from RTE - give us a decent RTE News Now, and RTE 3, with proper funding.

And OTV on Saorview.

Totally agree Sam, They should advertise a licence for a news channel and if commercial offers are not forthcoming then RTÉ should be given the power to make News Now a full 15-24hr live station.

political analyst

irishfeen wrote: »

Totally agree Sam, They should advertise a licence for a news channel and if commercial offers are not forthcoming then RTÉ should be given the power to make News Now a full 15-24hr live station.

Surely, RTÉ could move control of News Now from Commercial Enterprises to News & Current Affairs. Couldn't it?

irishfeen

political analyst wrote: »

Surely, RTÉ could move control of News Now from Commercial Enterprises to News & Current Affairs. Couldn't it?

What would that achieve? they are being prevented from making money from the station via ads so the current set-up is the best we can expect until a minister with a pair of balls enters office.

Elmo

political analyst wrote: »

Surely, RTÉ could move control of News Now from Commercial Enterprises to News & Current Affairs. Couldn't it?

They could and it might achieve something, it could easily go to TV.

If the commercials broadcasters have an issue then they must provide an alternative.

It makes sense to have an open competition for such a service if only RTÉ applies then it should get the licence

Harry Palmr

irishfeen wrote: »

They are big big boys in the industry too! I honestly think UTV thought nobody would come to TV3's rescue (like most of us) and that they eventually would fold - ironically the tables may be turning as UTVI doesn't seem to be making a name for itself in the Irish market.

This makes one wonder about how clued in they are to their own business, you'd have to wonder if there weren't some whispers within corridors about TV3s future and if so how that would effect UTVs proposals.

political analyst

irishfeen wrote: »

What would that achieve? they are being prevented from making money from the station via ads so the current set-up is the best we can expect until a minister with a pair of balls enters office.

But it makes sense that the national public service broadcaster's news channel should be controlled by the News & Current Affairs division of that broadcaster.

Elmo

political analyst wrote: »

But it makes sense that the national public service broadcaster's news channel should be controlled by the News & Current Affairs division of that broadcaster.

There have been changes as far as I know RTÉ News Now is part of RTÉ Digital. Though as a TV service it should be part of RTÉ TV, Editorial from RTÉ News and Current Affairs and online RTÉ Digital.

In any case RTÉ News Now should better schedule, but this is off topic.

Infoanon

irishfeen wrote: »

You really have to wonder have UTV made a monumental misjudgment in not buying TV3 and going down the route of a competing station - Liberty/UPC paying €80m for two prime EPG channels, studios, news crews, Champions League rights etc.

The shear size of Liberty in competition to UTV must be very worrying for them.

TV3 has considerable debts and it is unclear if the 80m includes or excludes taking over the debt.

Does Liberty Global control and operate any other TV stations ??

icdg

They sold their content division, Chellomedia (best known here as the operator of the CBS branded channels) last year. At the time it was looked upon as Liberty exiting the content business so getting back into it is an odd move from their point of view.

Elmo

icdg wrote: »

They sold their content division, Chellomedia (best known here as the operator of the CBS branded channels) last year. At the time it was looked upon as Liberty exiting the content business so getting back into it is an odd move from their point of view.

Perhaps the broadcasting, They own All3Media with Discovery, which UTV have an agreement with for The Cube.

Hibrasil

Elmo wrote: »

Perhaps the broadcasting, They own All3Media with Discovery, which UTV have an agreement with for The Cube.

Ancd what have Discovery acquired in the recent past????

Elmo

Hibrasil wrote: »

Ancd what have Discovery acquired in the recent past????

I'd say channel 5, only Viacom bought that. Eurosport is the most recent.

gordongekko

Elmo wrote: »

Perhaps the broadcasting, They own All3Media with Discovery, which UTV have an agreement with for The Cube.

Which also makes red rock

gordongekko

Elmo wrote: »

I'd say channel 5, only Viacom bought that. Eurosport is the most recent.

I'm guessing he's talking about Olympic games coverage

B17G

Not a happy outlook....

UTV Ireland faces a near inevitable merger with rival TV3 after a dismal first six months' trading, according to a leading UK Media Analyst.....

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/utv-ireland-may-merge-with-tv3-after-mounting-losses-31369068.html

Delta2113

Plenty of job losses on the way if this happens. They might even keep 3 channels in operation but I'm sure some journalists wish they never took a job with Utv Ireland.

channelsurfer2

I would question that article. Its coming from the sunday indo,which has been extremely negative to utvirl since launch and very pro tv3. There is no way they will merge this year. Utvirl will continue but may have to ration back if the audience stays static.

Sam Russell

Were not TV3 going through rotten times before and now suddenly, despite dreadful audience figures, is now seeing roses growing at the door?