If
they had the funding, they could move ITV2 into Channel 5's slot, put 3 in 2's old slot and 4 in 3's old slot and have an ITV News Channel? Massive if though.
Would give them access to a slot for their proposed Free offerings of Sport, and enable them to enter other genres of Content whilst retaining the best of the existing service,
Good call - could be BT's equivalent of Sky One!
I suppose that depends if they've got any money left!
well after Christmas they should have - taking money for no service (Xmas eve through to NYE) - no landline due to a fault (so no phone or internet)!!!
No problem with the cash, I'm expecting them to spend around £6-7Bn over the next 5 years building their Broadcasting Portfolio. Rights available in the next 12 months are slim, paying £500M (C5 wont go for £700M imo) in 2014 for C5 and allocating £300M towards content and rebranding would fit the strategy. Getting in now would ensure a Freeview HD slot if they acted quickly too.
No problem with the cash, I'm expecting them to spend around £6-7Bn over the next 5 years building their Broadcasting Portfolio. Rights available in the next 12 months are slim, paying £500M (C5 wont go for £700M imo) in 2014 for C5 and allocating £300M towards content and rebranding would fit the strategy. Getting in now would ensure a Freeview HD slot if they acted quickly too.
Why would BT want Channel 5, a free to air broadcaster with PSB commitments? If they want to slot on Freeview to fulfill commitments with UEFA there are cheaper ways of doing that. If the whole pay TV exercise has been to sure up the broadband side of the business where does Channel 5 fit in?
Channel 5's PSB commitments are minimal really, and BT has been splashing cash around so it's not out of the question. Besides it's not necessarily cheaper to set up your own channel and build up those sort of ratings from scratch. Look at Virgin 1.
If you'd asked me a few years ago did I think BT would launch its own sports channels and show Premier League football I'd have thought you were having a laugh, so anything's possible now really.
Another point is that C5 comes with a Universal Freeview slot, very valuable if bids for FTA World Cup Coverage and other 'Crown Jewels' rights are being contemplated.
Thinking about it, if companies like Vodafone and BT are in the running to buy it, you can see why ITV is up for it too. Having a ridiculously cash rich multinational in charge of a competitor could be a scary prospect.