Cable Forum - Liberty global may take over itv

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1andrew1

30-08-2014 22:06

LGI canvases ITV shareholders for a takeover?

Quote:

Daily Telegraph Liberty Global, the owner of Virgin Media, controlled by the American billionaire John Malone, is canvassing support from major ITV shareholders following its acquisition this summer of a 6.4pc stake, raising speculation of a full takeover bid.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...-takeover.html

denphone

31-08-2014 05:38

Re: LGI canvases ITV shareholders for a takeover?

Its just a matter of time.....

Qtx	31-08-2014 10:20

Re: LGI canvases ITV shareholders for a takeover?

Interesting news!

muppetman11

31-08-2014 12:10

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

With the exception of ITV Encore and HD variants of ITV 2-4 all those channels are available FTA on the likes of Freeview and Freesat.

Sky obviously weren't overly concerned about the situation considering they sold Liberty Global there 6.4% stake in ITV.

OLD BOY

31-08-2014 12:20

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

The point is that VM will now have its own content and it can build on these channels fairly easily.

Just because ITV 2 - 4 are currently free to air, that doesn't mean that they always will be. It was reported fairly recently that ITV were considering converting all channels complementary to the main ITV channel to subscription channels.

Whether or not ITV are still contemplating this I don't know, but new ownership could change everything.

I think it is significant also that if Liberty Global make this work, they will have the biggest commercial channel on Freeview, putting Sky's Pick TV into the shade.

muppetman11

31-08-2014 13:20

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Why would Sky want to be at the forefront of FTA TV ? :confused:

When its a pay TV platform with pay TV channels , its whole business model is built around people paying subscriptions not FTA.

OLD BOY

31-08-2014 13:26

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppetman11 (Post 35725509)

Why would Sky want to be at the forefront of FTA TV ? :confused:

When its a pay TV platform with pay TV channels , its whole business model is built around people paying subscriptions not FTA.

Yes, MM but owning a free to air channel provides a good showcase for the other subscription channels owned by the company. It can be used cleverly to draw attention to popular programmes on the other channels, thereby driving up subscriptions.

Mr Banana

31-08-2014 14:01

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppetman11 (Post 35725489)

Something must have changed as they were certainly concerned when VM tried to buy ITV a few years back. They bought a load of shares to block the move and were forced into reducing their holding by Ofcom.

Maybe, Sky realise they can do nothing to stop LG?

muppetman11

31-08-2014 14:09

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Maybe an improved working relationship ?

Sky wouldn't have been allowed to purchase 100% of ITV anyway would they ? Maybe they didn't see value in their stake.

OLD BOY

31-08-2014 14:13

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppetman11 (Post 35725536)

Maybe an improved working relationship ?

Sky wouldn't have been allowed to purchase 100% of ITV anyway would they ? Maybe they didn't see value in their stake.

Don't forget that Sky were told they had to reduce their holdings in ITV. Given this, any strategy they may have had for taking over ITV was dead in the water.

Accordingly, there was little point in Sky holding on to the shares.

Ignitionnet

31-08-2014 14:46

Re: LGI canvases ITV shareholders for a takeover?

Oh goodie. More money being burned at the altar of content rather than building next generation networks. BT have started a trend.

rhyds

31-08-2014 15:11

Re: LGI canvases ITV shareholders for a takeover?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet (Post 35725548)

Oh goodie. More money being burned at the altar of content rather than building next generation networks. BT have started a trend.

Networks pay back over 30+ years.

Content pays back over 5.

Ignitionnet

31-08-2014 16:00

Re: LGI canvases ITV shareholders for a takeover?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhyds (Post 35725564)

Networks pay back over 30+ years.

Content pays back over 5.

Networks deliver for decades. Content delivers until the next big thing, and without networks goes nowhere.

rhyds

31-08-2014 16:11

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Equally there's no point in having a broadcast network with no unique content to attract anyone to it.

Ignitionnet

31-08-2014 16:29

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhyds (Post 35725587)

Equally there's no point in having a broadcast network with no unique content to attract anyone to it.

Doesn't seem to have done VM any great harm. Didn't cause UPC in most markets any issues either. LGI have done alright for a while without owning content production in all territories.

The network itself can be a USP, as can how content is presented.

However, if it means we get shot of X-Factor and it becomes exclusive to a certain group I'm all in favour, and indeed would happily contribute financially.

Kushan

31-08-2014 16:32

Re: LGI canvases ITV shareholders for a takeover?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet (Post 35725581)

Networks deliver for decades. Content delivers until the next big thing, and without networks goes nowhere.

I don't have a problem with having both short and long term investments. Content is a huge driver towards those large networks. What if LibGlob creates a next-generation network capable of 4k or even 8k content streaming, but doesn't have content to make it worthwhile?

There's plenty of investment to go around.

rhyds

31-08-2014 16:42

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

VM of course has the benefit of having their own broadband network (unlike BT, who have to wholesale theirs), but I'm still willing to bet that many customers left sky for VM and BT when Sky were forced to wholesale Sky Sports.

OLD BOY

31-08-2014 17:33

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet (Post 35725590)

It's taken away Virgin's bargaining chips, so it has done some harm. Liberty Global appears to have recognised this.

Pierre

31-08-2014 20:51

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35725491)

The point is that VM will now have its own content and it can build on these channels fairly easily.

jumping a few steps ahead aren't we? If LG take over ITV, there's nothing to suggest anything will change in regards to the relationship with VM.

Quote:

I think it is significant also that if Liberty Global make this work, they will have the biggest commercial channel on Freeview, putting Sky's Pick TV into the shade.

There you go, " biggest commercial channel on free view". Do you think LG would jeopardise that by limiting it to VM

Paul	31-08-2014 21:55

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet (Post 35725590)

However, if it means we get shot of X-Factor ....

We can only hope.

OLD BOY

01-09-2014 11:46

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pierre (Post 35725659)

jumping a few steps ahead aren't we? If LG take over ITV, there's nothing to suggest anything will change in regards to the relationship with VM.

There you go, " biggest commercial channel on free view". Do you think LG would jeopardise that by limiting it to VM

Jumping ahead? Yes, of course. I am looking at the strategy behind this and what it may lead to.

I have not suggested anywhere that ITV will become subscription only and nor have I suggested that they will be exclusive to VM.

The strategy has already overtaken your apparent thinking on ITV 2-4 by the way. ITV are known to be contemplating moving these to subscription only channels.

Risco

03-09-2014 09:09

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Just in time for the next premier league rights. iTV Sport 1, 2 and 3 anyone?

muppetman11

03-09-2014 10:25

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Quote:

Originally Posted by Risco (Post 35726215)

Just in time for the next premier league rights. iTV Sport 1, 2 and 3 anyone?

Highly unlikely it simply wouldn't be worth getting involved , let Sky and BT hurl stupid amounts of money at football.

denphone

03-09-2014 10:30

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppetman11 (Post 35726232)

Highly unlikely it simply wouldn't be worth getting involved , let Sky and BT hurl stupid amounts of money at football.

Spot on MM.

Media Boy UK

03-09-2014 15:33

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Quote:

Originally Posted by Risco (Post 35726215)

Just in time for the next premier league rights. iTV Sport 1, 2 and 3 anyone?

Been try in past ask English Football from 2001/2002 season.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITV_Dig...n_and_Freeview

muppetman11

03-09-2014 15:58

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

I don't think they'll be venturing into football again anytime soon well at least premier league football.

Kushan

03-09-2014 17:43

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

yeah, isn't that what sunk OnDigital?

Pierre

03-09-2014 18:19

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Why would they need to when they can carry both BT and Sky.

1andrew1

03-09-2014 21:55

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35726234)

Spot on MM.

Skie	03-09-2014 23:26

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kushan (Post 35726293)

yeah, isn't that what sunk OnDigital?

A company in the Murdoch empire cracked the encryption they used and published the information, so the entire platform was wide open as soon as it was launched and their expensive rights purchase did not pay off as a result.

OLD BOY

09-09-2014 12:44

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skie (Post 35726375)

Correct. We need to get this into perspective.

rhyds

09-09-2014 13:00

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

That, and of course the fact that until digital switchover there were large areas of the country that couldn't get ONDigital.

DOT COTTON

10-09-2014 15:02

Re: Liberty global may take over itv

wELL IF THEY DO BUY ITV LETS HOPE THEY GET RID OF PHILLIP SCHOFIELD, THAT MAN REALLY ANNOYS ME.

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