That was my point earlier, it's not as easy as it would be for a private company, Mind you publicly owned assets get sold off to/merged with foreign companies quite often
But I highly doubt the government would directly sell off a publically owned asset to a foreign company.
It might happen eventually IF Channel 4 is privatised.
The trouble is that, if the sell off were to go as per the past half a dozen public floatations (BT, Rail, etc) then it would go on the stock exchange and the public would be able to buy the shares first.
So - a merger actually isn't yet possible in any way, shape or form.
They wouldn't become one big channel though, would they? It would still be Channel 4 and five.
I was under the impression it would.
I would think there would still be two channels, with their own news services, but probaly under one management etc. Maybe they might have new names now. I find it stupid how there is now BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, ITV2, and then Channel 4 and five. Their names seem out of place.
They wouldn't become one big channel though, would they? It would still be Channel 4 and five.
I was under the impression it would.
I would think there would still be two channels, with their own news services, but probaly under one management etc. Maybe they might have new names now. I find it stupid how there is now BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, ITV2, and then Channel 4 and five. Their names seem out of place.
Oh Jesus ...
Okay - from Channel 4's own website:
It is a publicly owned corporation whose board is appointed by the television regulator - the Independent Television Commission / OFCOM (after Dec 2003) - in agreement with the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport.
Okay - "publically owned" - see. Can you see that? That means it CANNOT merge into five ...
Isn't Channel 4 government owned because its brief is to make innovative/niché programmes? If it was privatised then wouldn't it become ratings led? (Well, moreso than now).
As such, any privatisation would surely dumb it down, which would of course mean bad things for people who don't like "I'm a celebrity, extend my vague fame".
Isn't Channel 4 government owned because its brief is to make innovative/niché programmes? If it was privatised then wouldn't it become ratings led? (Well, moreso than now).
As such, any privatisation would surely dumb it down, which would of course mean bad things for people who don't like "I'm a celebrity, extend my vague fame".
IF THEY MERGED they need not change their names both channels could retain their own identities and publicise each other across both networks.
Those of us who can remember when Channel 4 started should remember that there was an advertising revenue sharing agreement/imposition (ARSAI) with ITV. Cross networking occurred between ITV and 4 until the ARSAI ended.
The holding company for both channels could be called anything perhaps TVUK (with due deferance to Flextech!) - but I would expect some AVIVA type meaningless name that would fit in with any potential stockmarket flotation.
Hence that's why I said IF THEY MERGED in caps. If the government is threatening to split up or should I say destroy the BBC (Sunday Times - and I do know who owns it) then ANYTHING is possible with Channel 4 and five.
Last edited by DVB Cornwall on 15 February 2004 10:39pm