Virgin Media sells UKTV stake to Scripps for Â£339m

Digital Fanatic · 15-08-2011, 09:57

Virgin Media sells UKTV stake to Scripps for Â£339m

Quote:

Virgin Media has sold its 50% stake in pay-TV channel operator UKTV to American broadcaster Scripps Networks Interactive in a deal worth Â£339 million.

Scripps - which launched its Food Network channel on Freeview in the UK last month - will pay Â£239m to purchase Virgin Media's shareholding in UKTV, and will also acquire all outstanding preferred stock and debt owed by UKTV to Virgin Media for Â£100m

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcas...r-gbp339m.html[COLOR="Silver"]

spiderplant · 15-08-2011, 10:15

Or from the horse's mouth
http://investors.virginmedia.com/Sto...tion-2186.aspx

Not mentioned there, but VM also get Eden HD, Good Food HD, Dave HD, Watch HD and Alibi HD (once they launch) as part of the deal.

denphone · 15-08-2011, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Or from the horse's mouth
http://investors.virginmedia.com/Sto...tion-2186.aspx

Not mentioned there, but VM also get Eden HD, Good Food HD, Dave HD, Watch HD and Alibi HD (once they launch) as part of the deal.

Lets hope we do not have to wait too long for these HD channels and VOD content.

Stephen · 15-08-2011, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

Lets hope we do not have to wait too long for these HD channels and VOD content.

Well I don't know about them all but Alibi HD isn't due to launch till next year I think.

Horizon · 15-08-2011, 10:35

Now if the Gardening channel returns, I'll be happy, but in the meantime this long strung out distraction for VM is finally at an end.

New to cable · 15-08-2011, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Or from the horse's mouth
http://investors.virginmedia.com/Sto...tion-2186.aspx

Not mentioned there, but VM also get Eden HD, Good Food HD, Dave HD, Watch HD and Alibi HD (once they launch) as part of the deal.

Another great deal for Virginmedia (the sale of living and getting the sky channels being the other) an the gap between Sky and virgin is narrowing all the time.

Now I think Sky is going to have to start justifying the Â£10.25 HD charge. It was kind of ok 2 years ago but now Virginmedia have really caught up and give there customers HD and ESPN inclusive on the top package.

I would say the TV services are now equal as although sky has more channels most of it is fluff. VM now have 85% of all the quality channels and there HD versions.

gcampbell · 15-08-2011, 12:10

So now VM have received a big fat wad of cash, perhaps they can give their viewers what they want and invest in Sky Atlantic!

denphone · 15-08-2011, 12:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcampbell

So now VM have received a big fat wad of cash, perhaps they can give their viewers what they want and invest in Sky Atlantic!

Yes the sooner we get that channel the better

jb66 · 15-08-2011, 12:57

I disagree, vm can't give in to sky's redicioulous demands, what's to stop them creating another channel and charge a fortune again!

denphone · 15-08-2011, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb66

I disagree, vm can't give in to sky's redicioulous demands, what's to stop them creating another channel and charge a fortune again!

But we do not know whether it is Sky's fault or Virgin's fault do we

gcampbell · 15-08-2011, 13:12

Exactly, Denphone, Sky are in the wrong because Mr Berkett says so? Sorry, I don't accept that. I really wish some people would get out of the mindset that VM are some kind of hero fighting against the tyrannical Sky empire!!

If Sky create another channel then put the Sky Atlantic programmes on that then I'm sure VM would have good grounds to go to ofcom about it.

If Sky are putting a deliberately unrealistic price on SKy Atlantic at the moment, why haven't VM complained about it?

jb66 · 15-08-2011, 13:17

What are ofcom going to do? Sky are not obligated to give virgin this channel for a reasonable cost

gcampbell · 15-08-2011, 13:41

Ofcom were able to order Sky to drop their sports price and reported Sky to the competition commission re movies, why not regarding TV content?

Also, who says Sky aren't offering it at a reasonable price? Sky think they are, VM think they aren't - why should we believe one company over the other.

Bottom line is, VM have got a good wad of cash for selling channels (again) surely it is no bad thing to invest in quality content?

denphone · 15-08-2011, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcampbell

Ofcom were able to order Sky to drop their sports price and reported Sky to the competition commission re movies, why not regarding TV content?

Also, who says Sky aren't offering it at a reasonable price? Sky think they are, VM think they aren't - why should we believe one company over the other.

Bottom line is, VM have got a good wad of cash for selling channels (again) surely it is no bad thing to invest in quality content?

Yes its definitely time they invested in more channels

Dave42 · 15-08-2011, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

But we do not know whether it is Sky's fault or Virgin's fault do we

sky have a history of witholding channels so it a fair guess who fault it is and they made it clear from the start and before it launched it was a sky exclusive so they had no intention of letting vm have it maybe after they change there packs in september they might let vm get it we have to wait and see i guess