The ITV Thread

JTMan · 11-10-2015 11:30am

The Sunday Times (UK edition) reports that:

ITV's acquisition of UTV will be for around £100 million and is likely to be announced this week.
ITV was in a position to drive a hard bargain because of the botched UTV Ireland.
There are still uncertainties over the future of UTV Ireland.
Speculation that ITV might target STV next.

ftakeith · 11-10-2015 1:18pm

JTMan wrote: »

The Sunday Times (UK edition) reports that:
ITV's acquisition of UTV will be for around £100 million and is likely to be announced this week.

ITV was in a position to drive a hard bargain because of the botched UTV Ireland.

There are still uncertainties over the future of UTV Ireland.

Speculation that ITV might target STV next.

I think UTV Ireland will be sold or merged to TV3/liberty

As TV3 are in pole position as they could get the ITV content

They also some channel 5 content so they can spread the content in 2016 through TV3/3e

political analyst · 11-10-2015 1:33pm

I reckon that TV3 are laughing at UTV Media.

Elmo · 11-10-2015 2:44pm

ftakeith wrote: »

I think UTV Ireland will be sold or merged to TV3/liberty

As TV3 are in pole position as they could get the ITV content

They also some channel 5 content so they can spread the content in 2016 through TV3/3e

TV3 are unlikely to be allowed takeover UTV Ireland.

And TV3 won't be laughing at anyone considering the complete mess they've made of their own channel, perhaps a sigh of relief

11-10-2015 3:43pm

Don't think it will be sold just rebranded and programming closer to that of ITV with local opt outs!

channelsurfer2 · 11-10-2015 4:05pm

zorro2566 wrote: »

Don't think it will be sold just rebranded and programming closer to that of ITV with local opt outs!

Yes I agree with this. It makes more sense to align the schedule with the ITV schedule. the news output could be the first casualty as it dosent seem to be working well. Probably a lot more use of ITN for reports other than irish news.

the rugby rights will be interesting. Will ITV be prepared to pay 3 to 4 million a year so that it can show the same as the main itv station?

expectationlost · 11-10-2015 4:41pm

Elmo wrote: »

TV3 are unlikely to be allowed takeover UTV Ireland.

would that not bring the TV market share back to near what it was? will they take radio ownership into account when looking at TV mergers?

Elmo · 11-10-2015 5:09pm

expectationlost wrote: »

would that not bring the market share back to near what it was? will they take radio ownership into account when looking at TV mergers?

No, UTV Radio is staying with UTV Media, if it was a case of ITV taking over UTV entirely then the Competition authorities in Ireland and the UK would have to examine radio ownership. When Communicorp took control of 98fm and fm104 they had to divest fm104, which was bought by UTV Media.

As UTV has left Virgin Media, and if TV3 were to take control of UTV Ireland, it would be unlikely that Virgin Media (soon to be owners of TV3) would allow UTV proper return to its EPG.

This would certainly mean that TV3's share would increase significantly.

e.g. September saw TV3, 3e and UTV Ireland with 20% of the audience due to RWC and the ITV soaps. TV3 if taking on UTV Ireland would most likely replace it with 3e+1 and move the ITV soaps back to TV3. This would swell TV3's audience to 17%, including UTV proper's previous 3% audience share.

This doesn't take into consideration that Virgin Media is one of the biggest provider of telecommunications and broadcasting services in the country. CCPC would have to take that into consideration when allowing TV3 takeover UTV Ireland.

Ironically if ITV was to drop UTV Ireland and sell its programming to TV3 no regulator would get involved.

1. Could TV3 buy the ITV studio's package of programmes for 2016? unlike as TV3 probably have much of 2016 ready by this stage.
2. Could TV3 buy UTV Ireland after it's sale to Virgin Media? Unlikely regulators would have to agree, that takes a number of months and Virgin Media would have to be willing to allow TV3 purchase UTV Ireland, this is unlikely considering that Virgin Media will be looking for a return on its TV3 investment.
3. Could UTV Ireland close and be replaced by UTV with some programming removed due to TV3 rights? Possibly but slightly a waste of money.

UTV Ireland's biggest mistake was Ireland Live. It failed to use its network of Radio News to provide the service.

IMO the most likely thing to happen is that UTV Ireland under ITV will decided to commission their news from another broadcaster, as ITV, Channel 5 and Channel 4 do with ITN. You could see an end credit

Produced by NewsTalk for ITV Ireland
or Produced by TV3 News for ITV Ireland
or Produced by RTÉ News for ITV Ireland
or Produced by Sky News for ITV Ireland.

gordongekko · 11-10-2015 5:25pm

the indo are in the market for acquisitions

icdg · 12-10-2015 2:05pm

It's not beyond the realms of possibility that ITN could produce it either, though it's worth noting that in England and Wales the ITV regional news operations and ITN remain separate.

For me a big way of cutting costs while keeping UTV Ireland going would be to leave Saorview and to discontinue the news operation altogether. They would still be in a large percentage of Irish households via cable and Sky.

Elmo · 12-10-2015 3:54pm

icdg wrote: »

For me a big way of cutting costs while keeping UTV Ireland going would be to leave Saorview and to discontinue the news operation altogether. They would still be in a large percentage of Irish households via cable and Sky.

I think they would loss a significant audience and as the rely on advertising leaving Saorview may not be an option. Effectively they become a real opt-out, with a bad channel position on Sky.

There main loss is News due to the high costs. If UTV dropped the news from Dublin and replace it with ITN/UTV Live they'd prob still get the same audience share.

13-10-2015 10:50am

UTV sale agreed!

http://www.newstalk.com/UTV-Ireland-confirmed-as-part-of-UTV-Medias-sale-to-ITV

irishfeen · 13-10-2015 10:56am

zorro2566 wrote: »

UTV sale agreed!

http://www.newstalk.com/UTV-Ireland-confirmed-as-part-of-UTV-Medias-sale-to-ITV

Very interesting to see what ITV do with UTV Ireland!

13-10-2015 11:02am

irishfeen wrote: »

Very interesting to see what ITV do with UTV Ireland!

I wouldnt predict a closure anyway,why invest in it and then shut it down! If they are going to show the ITV out put here with local programme opt outs then the only issue is with the ITV content that TV3 currently have the rights to!

irishfeen · 13-10-2015 11:11am

zorro2566 wrote: »

I wouldnt predict a closure anyway,why invest in it and then shut it down! If they are going to show the ITV out put here with local programme opt outs then the only issue is with the ITV content that TV3 currently have the rights to!

I'd tend to agree - if they scale back news and eventually merge schedules then it will come good you would think.. All the studios/infrastructure are now in place so the main initial cost is already dealt with.

channelsurfer2 · 13-10-2015 12:12pm

SO can we now start taking bets on when the UTV Ireland name will disappear? It will become ITV but the question will it be ITV Ireland or what?

ftakeith · 13-10-2015 12:45pm

http://www.newstalk.com/UTV-Ireland-...as-sale-to-ITV

not confirmed

irishfeen · 13-10-2015 12:47pm

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

SO can we now start taking bets on when the UTV Ireland name will disappear? It will become ITV but the question will it be ITV Ireland or what?

Yeah I think there will be a ITV NI and ITV Ireland.. Big cut in news output from Dublin I think to cut costs.

Elmo · 13-10-2015 1:03pm

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

SO can we now start taking bets on when the UTV Ireland name will disappear? It will become ITV but the question will it be ITV Ireland or what?

I imagine that if ITV take UTV and UTV Ireland they will be named as other local variations e.g. ITV Wales and ITV Borders

ITV Northern Ireland
And ITV Ireland

gordongekko · 13-10-2015 1:59pm

You'd have to wonder why itv sold their original stake in tv3 all those years ago.

icdg · 13-10-2015 2:09pm

They had to. Under the shareholders agreement they had to match any offer for the other shareholders (the now defunct Canwest) stake or else sell themselves. This was an ITV that was not in the financial position it is now and couldn't afford a bidding war.

channelsurfer2 · 13-10-2015 2:13pm

It should mean that the schedule will become more or less the same(bar the TV3 stuff such as Xfactor) now with the dramas running the same day. Graham Norton might disappear though as he is a BBC programme(although made by ITV Studios).
Other changes could include moving the news to 6pm and the Chase back to 5pm. No doubt they will spin it as a successful acquisition to "streamline" the brand etc.

Elmo · 13-10-2015 2:22pm

icdg wrote: »

They had to. Under the shareholders agreement they had to match any offer for the other shareholders (the now defunct Canwest) stake or else sell themselves. This was an ITV that was not in the financial position it is now and couldn't afford a bidding war.

Also ITV said it would not spend stupid money on TV3. BTW ITV have done the best out of all this. Sold TV3 for an extremely high price, continued to sell its programming to the channel until 2015, then sold it to a rival and later bought the rival at a lower price to what they sold TV3 for in 2006!

formerly scottish paddy · 13-10-2015 4:03pm

UTV Ireland will end up just running the ITV schedule like every other ITV region with the possible exception of ITN bulletins which UTV (sorry) ITV Ireland will have to fill themselves.

formerly scottish paddy · 13-10-2015 4:12pm

Elmo wrote: »

I imagine that if ITV take UTV and UTV Ireland they will be named as other local variations e.g. ITV Wales and ITV Borders

ITV Northern Ireland
And ITV Ireland

I would say ITV Ireland, it's the obvious choice.

JTMan · 13-10-2015 4:17pm

formerly scottish paddy wrote: »

UTV Ireland will end up just running the ITV schedule like every other ITV region with the possible exception of ITN bulletins which UTV (sorry) ITV Ireland will have to fill themselves.

The problem is that local news is expensive. ITV need to cut costs significantly in their soon to be acquired RoI operation to make it viable. News is one area where there will surely have to be cuts.

formerly scottish paddy · 13-10-2015 4:22pm

ITV will be able to run the Dublin station a lot cheaper, they will not have to pay for programming.......it will just follow the ITV schedule. The news will probably be pared back. Advertising sold from London (and Dublin), easy money.
ITV also have deeper pockets than UTV to get ITV I established, and it's going to be a lot easier following the ITV schedule, which will go down well with the viewers.

Elmo · 13-10-2015 4:33pm

formerly scottish paddy wrote: »

ITV will be able to run the Dublin station a lot cheaper, they will not have to pay for programming.......it will just follow the ITV schedule. The news will probably be pared back. Advertising sold from London (and Dublin), easy money.
ITV also have deeper pockets than UTV to get ITV I established, and it's going to be a lot easier following the ITV schedule, which will go down well with the viewers.

The problem with going down the route of using just ITV programming is that Irish audience expect a certain amount of US and Irish programming.

ITV will need to understand that Irish audience are much more used to US TV. One major problem that Irish TV currently has is its failure to get US programming either for their online players or first runs on broadcast TV. That mix of programming is very important.

ITV Ireland won't get 10% just because of its use of English programming. It needs the right mix. Xfactor has all but died for TV3.

channelsurfer2 · 13-10-2015 4:39pm

well if they don't have to pay for programming it will save them 10million a year instantly.(that's what ITV Studios output was seemingly costing)

Elmo · 13-10-2015 5:13pm

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

well if they don't have to pay for programming it will save them 10million a year instantly.(that's what ITV Studios output was seemingly costing)

10million seems low considering they lost so much.

Transmission costs around 5million per year (taking it they pay for Sky and UPC unlike other channels)
10million for Irish programming (including news and current affairs and Dublin Office)

25million per year

with 5.5% of the audience suppose might only mean 16million in advertising.

The ITV Thread

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