ALL Virgin / NTL merger discussion - Page 2

04-12-2005, 15:18

the first thing he will do if he does take over, is replace most of the drivel that work there now... so watch'ya backs!

Stuart · 04-12-2005, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodger444

the first thing he will do if he does take over, is replace most of the drivel that work there now... so watch'ya backs!

Yep. He'll outsource it to India.. As he has done with the call centre staff for Virgin trains.

King Of Fools · 04-12-2005, 15:29

More news:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4496894.stm

http://www.ananova.com/business/stor...840.html?menu=

---------- Post added at 14:28 ---------- Previous post was at 14:27 ----------

Ananova will remove the story soon, so I will quote it before then:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ananova

Branson Eyes £4.5bn NTL Merger

Sir Richard Branson looks poised to merge his Virgin Mobile phones business with cable company NTL to create a new media powerhouse.

The move will create a £4.5bn entertainment and communications giant with more than nine million customers.

The proposed deal, which will see NTL rebranded Virgin, amounts to a reverse takeover.

It will provide the UK's first "quadruple play" service, made up of mobile phones, fixed-line phones, internet broadband and television.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, Sir Richard will swap his 72% stake in Virgin Mobile for a 14% slice of the enlarged cable and mobile group.

This will make him the biggest single shareholder in the new company.

It is thought that NTL will table an offer for Virgin Mobile above the latter's 311p Friday closing price.

The proposed deal, which already has Sir Richard's backing, is subject to the ££.4bn tie-up of NTL and rival Telewest going through.

Jonathan David · 04-12-2005, 15:47

But the one thing that Virgin is good at is PR.

Just think how much the PR difference is between the Cable commpanies and Sky.

Now add Virgins marketing to it and i believe you have the 'rebirth' of the Cable

Robert Atkins · 04-12-2005, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

I dunno. In my experience, Virgin Mobile's service is ,at best, mediochre (that's assuming it works at all), and every time I have been on Virgin trains, they have been terrible..

Exactly! Don't forget the overpacked Virgin planes

Pointless merger...NTL/Telewest will gain nothing from this...

Millay · 04-12-2005, 16:55

I think it can only be good, and perhpas even give cable the power over sky for once...

hey it cant get any worse.

Albie · 04-12-2005, 17:06

What do they mean by a "reverse takeover".

jrhnewark · 04-12-2005, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albie

What do they mean by a "reverse takeover".

In this case, Virgin Mobile is being taken-over by NTL - however, Virgin Mobile's main shareholder (Branson) will become a major shareholder in NTL in a result... or, that's the gist of it.

Nothing can really get worse as a result of this.

Downloads · 04-12-2005, 17:20

Branson is a very clever man and this is a mighty move by him. This takes him to a whole new ball park in the entertainment market, and puts him in a position to challenge Sky, Virgin mobile could never compete with Sky obviously but this will make him the second biggest mover and shaker behind Murdoch and knowing Branson and with his influence he won't be happy to be the second biggest.

Shame the benefits won't be reaped immediately, lets hope it starts with the football

littld · 04-12-2005, 18:09

Oh dear.

This might be great for the service and great for Richard.

But what about my favourite website - I think "Virgin Hell World" might attract the wrong sort of visitors!

rogerdraig · 04-12-2005, 19:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by littld

Oh dear.

This might be great for the service and great for Richard.

But what about my favourite website - I think "Virgin Hell World" might attract the wrong sort of visitors!

ROFL

Best laugh today ty

9083 · 04-12-2005, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodger444

the first thing he will do if he does take over, is replace most of the drivel that work there now... so watch'ya backs!

Becareful what you say... you might need help from some of the 'drivel' one day my friend.

Cerberus · 04-12-2005, 19:58

Sounds like a good thing. IMO Sky have owned the market for far too long.

By the way, Virgin mobile is a service provider and not actually a network as they rent their air space from T-Mobile. So in effect would T-Mobile have anything to do with this as well?

etccarmageddon · 04-12-2005, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

...and every time I have been on Virgin trains, they have been terrible..

exactly what I was thinking. for all the hype, his manchester to london route train I've done 2 or 3 times over the last few years is worst than the old BR version from the 1990's. There's something about Richard Branson I find uncomfortable and I dont think NTL need his image to sell the product.

---------- Post added at 19:04 ---------- Previous post was at 19:03 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Yep. He'll outsource it to India.. As he has done with the call centre staff for Virgin trains.

what a git.

enjoymarcus · 04-12-2005, 20:07

I read in those articles that they will go up against sky for the premiership tv rights....