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End of the road for UTV?

Split from UTV - From City Quays 2 onwards (November 2020)

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MO
Mockah
AlfieMulcahy posted:
BiggieSMLZ posted:
Hey, am I the only one here who thinks that they could just rebrand UTV as something like ITV Northern Ireland?


No. Your not.

I think ITV News Ulster sounds nicer though


I personally think they'll get the same treatment as Border (having their own magazine show and such)
JA
Jamesypoo
Mockah posted:
Oh definitely, they're quite proud (from what I've seen of them) but ITV plc are (I believe?) richer than them, and besides every single franchise except those two up north (and Channel Television strangely enough....) are owned by them, who says they won't buy them

I thought ITV plc bought Channel TV a few years ago now?
CO
Cold Open
Upon its formation in 2004, ITV plc consisted of all-but-five of the Channel 3 network's franchisees.

They acquired GMTV in 2009, Channel Television in 2011, and UTV in 2016.
KE
kernow
I think this was inevitable.

When ITV scrapped UTV continuity earlier in the year, they said it was just temporary, and used covid as an excuse, but I think ITV have always wanted this, and it was never going to be temporary.
CO
Colm
With Aisling from Anglia now installed as relief for Frank Mitchell, and the continued persistence with presenter-less bulletins, I imagine there's little chance Julian and Gillian may still pop-up on UTV weather forecasts.

Julian still has Rewind to fall back on, so I doubt we've seen the last of him; I can't think of a similar platform for Gillian, though.

A further thought: will Aidan Browne remain on your screens?
Last edited by Colm on 26 November 2020 6:15pm
MO
Mockah
Jamesypoo posted:
Mockah posted:
Oh definitely, they're quite proud (from what I've seen of them) but ITV plc are (I believe?) richer than them, and besides every single franchise except those two up north (and Channel Television strangely enough....) are owned by them, who says they won't buy them

I thought ITV plc bought Channel TV a few years ago now?


Oh they did, just not the license. Channel Television Holdings Ltd is the current license holder, and unlike other ITV franchises, Channel Television ltd isn't listed as dormant at all!
Rexogamer and Cold Open gave kudos
CO
Cold Open
Colm posted:
Julian still has Rewind to fall back on.


The Belfast Telegraph article linked at the start of this thread indicates that Julian and Gillian have left UTV entirely, so I'm not sure that either of them reappearing in any capacity (Rewind or whatever else) is on the cards.

I can just see it now: "Noy on BBC Wan Norn Iron..."
KE
kernow
Cold Open posted:
Colm posted:
Julian still has Rewind to fall back on.


The Belfast Telegraph article linked at the start of this thread indicates that Julian and Gillian have left UTV entirely, so I'm not sure that either of them reappearing in any capacity (Rewind or whatever else) is on the cards.

I can just see it now: "Noy on BBC Wan Norn Iron..."


Unless they do it on a freelance basis, or through programmes made through independent production companies.
Rexogamer, Colm and Cold Open gave kudos
AN
Andrew Founding member
They’ve had a good innings, and nothing lasts forever. They’ve already outlasted most regional announcers by 18 years and remained for another 4 years after ITV bought the station.

Apparently Julian is 68, so is around retirement age anyway
Last edited by Andrew on 26 November 2020 7:02pm
CO
Colm
kernow posted:
Cold Open posted:
The Belfast Telegraph article linked at the start of this thread indicates that Julian and Gillian have left UTV entirely, so I'm not sure that either of them reappearing in any capacity (Rewind or whatever else) is on the cards.


Unless they do it on a freelance basis, or through programmes made through independent production companies.


True; Pamela Ballantine being a precedent - her contract with UTV being terminated ten years ago, and subsequently re-employed in a freelance capacity.
IS
Inspector Sands
Mockah posted:
Jamesypoo posted:
Mockah posted:
Oh definitely, they're quite proud (from what I've seen of them) but ITV plc are (I believe?) richer than them, and besides every single franchise except those two up north (and Channel Television strangely enough....) are owned by them, who says they won't buy them

I thought ITV plc bought Channel TV a few years ago now?


Oh they did, just not the license. Channel Television Holdings Ltd is the current license holder, and unlike other ITV franchises, Channel Television ltd isn't listed as dormant at all!

Looking on Companies House there were two companies called Channel Television Ltd, both are closed and wound up. One of them existed just for the compliance of programmes by ITV in order to minimise any potential fines

Channel Television Holdings is the license holder and its a wholey owned subsidiary of ITV PLC.
MO
Mockah
Inspector Sands posted:
Mockah posted:
Jamesypoo posted:
I thought ITV plc bought Channel TV a few years ago now?


Oh they did, just not the license. Channel Television Holdings Ltd is the current license holder, and unlike other ITV franchises, Channel Television ltd isn't listed as dormant at all!

Looking on Companies House there were two companies called Channel Television Ltd, both are closed and wound up. One of them existed just for the compliance of programmes by ITV in order to minimise any potential fines

Channel Television Holdings is the license holder and its a wholey owned subsidiary of ITV PLC.


Oh, thank you! I might've misread then! Embarassed

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