Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Horizon

I've always said on this forum and others, that we'll end up with 3, or perhaps 4 companies all offering tv, broadband, landline phone and mobile and other media too. Perhaps looking something like this:
BT, O2, ITV
Sky, Talktalk, EE
Vodafone, Virgin Media

I would put the combinations as:
1) BT, EE (Would broadband market share be an issue?)
2) Sky, O2 (Would Sky really want a mobile operator? Can it afford to now after its European expansion? Would Telefonica want a stake in Sky and how would Fox view this?)
3) Three, TalkTalk (Both value-for-money operators)
4) Vodafone, Virgin Media (Vodafone sees the European global cable synergies. Would there be some competition issues? UK mobile? German fixed lines?)

It is entirely possible that Vodafone and Sky won't make any big acquistions, in which case Three might make acquire EE or O2 as a defensive move against BT. Time will tell.

Sky is apparently hiring Lazard as advisers.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/47050522-7...#axzz3KjVspKIv Registration required.)

[Pierre]

I could quite easily see Vodafone buy Talk Talk and tie up a relationship deal with Sky.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I could quite easily see Vodafone buy Talk Talk and tie up a relationship deal with Sky.

I agree , every provider (VM being the exception) selling fixed line fibre BB is hampered by the fact their reliant on the Openreach network. This is an obstacle I'm sure at some stage one provider will look to team up and overcome.

Do they have the funds though ?

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I could quite easily see Vodafone buy Talk Talk and tie up a relationship deal with Sky.

TalkTalk's certainly a lot cheaper than Liberty Global to buy but the two customer bases are at different ends of the market. And Vodafone has a good existing relationship with Sky at the moment. But obviously Vodafone could save money by routing some of TalkTalk's business through its ex-C&W network if it bought the company.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

TalkTalk's certainly a lot cheaper than Liberty Global to buy but the two customer bases are at different ends of the market. And Vodafone has a good existing relationship with Sky at the moment. But obviously Vodafone could save money by routing some of TalkTalk's business through its ex-C&W network if it bought the company.

Also, As I understand it - i may be wrong - Talk Talk TV is oneof the better TV products of it's type, and an instant customer base to start from. A tie up with Sky for content and it may stand a chance.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Pierre

Also, As I understand it - i may be wrong - Talk Talk TV is oneof the better TV products of it's type, and an instant customer base to start from. A tie up with Sky for content and it may stand a chance.

It's got a YouView receiver and a reasonable range of channels. The issue is that its customers are primarily value-driven customers whilst Vodafone's are service driven. Increase the cost of TalkTalk to be able to offer Vodafone standards of service and you lose TalkTalk's customers. Reduce Vodafone's prices to match TalkTalk's and you have to reduce service standards and you lose Vodafone's customers. Keeping the brands separate is an option though, a bit like BT and PlusNet.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

I would put the combinations as:
1) BT, EE (Would broadband market share be an issue?)
2) Sky, O2 (Would Sky really want a mobile operator? Can it afford to now after its European expansion? Would Telefonica want a stake in Sky and how would Fox view this?)
3) Three, TalkTalk (Both value-for-money operators)
4) Vodafone, Virgin Media (Vodafone sees the European global cable synergies. Would there be some competition issues? UK mobile? German fixed lines?)

It is entirely possible that Vodafone and Sky won't make any big acquistions, in which case Three might make acquire EE or O2 as a defensive move against BT. Time will tell.

Sky is apparently hiring Lazard as advisers.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/47050522-7...#axzz3KjVspKIv Registration required.)

I see Sky has today sold its controlling stake in Sky Bet to allow them to focus on their pay TV operation.

Link

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

I see Sky has today sold its controlling stake in Sky Bet to allow them to focus on their pay TV operation.

Link

Interesting. More importantly, it gives them £600m cash now, but this is obviously small compared to the value of EE and O2.

[muppetman11]

It

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Interesting. More importantly, it gives them £600m cash now, but this is obviously small compared to the value of EE and O2.

I'm not convinced Sky will buy a mobile business however I can see a deal similar to the one VM have with EE that said stranger things have happened.

It'll be interesting to see if any of these moves impact the next EPL rights auction , will BT if it then owns either EE or O2 still have the funds to bid as aggressively ?

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Interesting. More importantly, it gives them £600m cash now, but this is obviously small compared to the value of EE and O2.

The cash will probably go towards content rights, most likely football.

EE/O2 would be an acquisition through shares with perhaps some cash component but not a large one.

Those of you with premium TV or BT landlines, hope you enjoy paying your football tax

[Pierre]

Vodafone deny Liberty bid.

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

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Pierre

Vodafone deny Liberty bid.

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

Good find, thanks for sharing.

[craigj2k12]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

(P.S. EE's 4G allowances are in fact the largest by far of the major networks, and pricing is competitive in some aspects, considering £800 of usage in the US on O2 would be free on EE.)

Three?

[jb66]

Originally Posted by Pierre

Vodafone deny Liberty bid.

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

They have to say that, vodafone share price dropped

[qasdfdsaq]

Originally Posted by craigj2k12

Three?

Three doesn't really have a proper 4G network, given their coverage was too poor to even make it onto Ofcom's last analysis, hence why they give it away for free...