ALL Virgin / NTL merger discussion - Page 6

chandleo · 08-12-2005, 01:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angelus

You aint stealing my thunder boyo.

for once i got something before anyone else on here

BTW it was posted on DS page 10 hours ago

lol, I was on Digitalspy reading about Space Cadets (don't even start!) and saw the headline, its the first time i've randomly posted anything for ages, the thunder's all yours I promise, didn't even notice til i'd posted!

Gareth · 09-12-2005, 18:12

Looks like this one isn't quite finished yet...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/09/ntl_virgin/

Quote:

NTL reckon its £817m bid for Virgin Mobile is a good offer representing "better value for all Virgin Mobile shareholders" - even though it's been rejected by the cellco.

09-12-2005, 22:00

I bet this will never go ahead!

No way will virgin want it's name associated with ntl. A company well known for poor CS and for nearly always being on the verge of bankruptcy! (OR AT LEAST IT WAS)

This is just a pipe dream!

I'll have whatever they are smoking please!

slowcoach · 10-12-2005, 01:25

NTL have refused to increase the offer for Virgin Mobile, at least for the time being.
Source BBC Radio 4.

poolking · 10-12-2005, 13:56

I think they're just posturing at the moment. Trying to force each other's hand. I think a deal will still go ahead.

Chrysalis · 10-12-2005, 21:26

This will go ahead I think.

Nemesis · 12-12-2005, 11:46

more news
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/article/...l-virgin-offer

paul11974 · 12-12-2005, 13:14

I reckon that pedigree chum might be a new partner they have a great brand

Chrysalis · 19-12-2005, 09:36

How is this to be funded do ntl have cash lying around to cover it or is it done in some fancy manner which doesnt need free cash?

zaax · 09-01-2006, 15:20

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/09/virgin_ntl/

Nice bit of deija vue. Will NTL go tit's up this time. They should be spending the money getting their systems right before wasting it buying Virgin.

Anyway they have enough of a system to do their own mobile phone net work (not that Virgin has a mobile phone net work).

McDave · 10-01-2006, 18:55

NTL and Cable&Wireless are going to merge and go under the name NTL. Then NTL are trying to buy some of Virgin moblie.

So if NTL are trying to buy virgin mobile why will they cange their name? Have I missed somthing? Site includeing The Register make it sould like Virgin are buying NTL.

BBKing · 10-01-2006, 19:16

Well, the C&W/ntl merger was nearly six years ago now. Virgin is a more powerful brand (read better reputation) than ntl and so is a better choice for a merged business.

McDave · 10-01-2006, 19:53

So getting a new name will help
?

andygrif · 10-01-2006, 23:18

I think you're getting C&W mixed up with Telewest who, it was announced, that ntl will be merging with. There are a few subtle differences between a takeover and a merger - usually to do with equity, share value and board level movements - so even though ntl will be (in effect) buying Telewest they are officially merging.

At this point they could change the name of either, both or neither.

Then when you get to Virgin, ntl publicly stated an interest into a mobile network to offer a "quadruple play" of services (TV, broadband, home phone, mobile phone) presumably to out-play Sky who will be doing broadband and home phone later this year and BT who will be doing Freeview and Video on Demand later this year.

CableTel had a crappy name for itself. When they changed to NTL they started all over again and now the ntl (lowercase) name has a poor public image and stigma attached to it, in a way that Sky do not. It doesn't matter whether the perception is true or not, but ntl are perceived in marketing terms as second or third rate.

That's where Virgin comes in. The Virgin brand is extremely strong. British people have a huge admiration for Branson as an individual and even after all these years the Virgin brand is a cool one to be associated with - the public buy into it.

But this is where I think it's a dangerous game for Branson; the history shows CableTel and ntl making a mess of things from a brand point of view - effectively killing the brand with consumers. It is dangerous to create a Virgin branded cable system that will suffer the same fate in a few years from now. Branson has come incredibly close to doing it with the trains, but managed to claw it back - I don't think he'd be that lucky with cable TV.

So there you go...In a nutshell, that's why they would want to change the name - and I have no doubt that Virgin TV would be more sucessful for a while than ntl is right now - but I also doubt it would last.

McDave · 11-01-2006, 00:12

Thanks that has helped.

Now I understand.