UTV sell TV business to ITV

Yes, along with launching TalkSport 2, they sold off Juice which kind of doesn't fit in with its other local radio portfolio such as Wish FM, Wire FM and Signal1.

Let's not forget this is all rumour, wasn't the Belfast Telegraph the paper that said UTV and TV3 were going to merge? But this latest twist is a damn sight more likely to happen, it's always been a case of when than if.

The problem is that ITV doesn't hold all of the relevant rights to show programmes in the Republic, even of its own commissioned programmes, because it hasn't been buying ROI rights (unlike Channel 4 and the vast majority of satellite broadcasters who do).

Sport is the biggest problem. Contrary to popular opinion, UTV Ireland can show ITV Sport coverage of an event - but it can only do so if it purchases the rights seperately. It has only managed to show the Cricket World Cup highlights and two boxing cards ITV were host broadcaster for so far.

News is not the issue that some make it out to be - ITV News branded news summaries are already aired during Good Morning Britain. However they will need to keep the Irish news service going in order to keep the PSB designation or they will not be able to stay on Saorview.

UTV are part of a consortium that won the second national DAB radio licence, UTV are providing brand extensions to talkSPORT including 2, talkRADIO, talkBUSINESS and rock station Virgin Radio.

I'm surprised that it's just the tv arm that would be sold to ITV plc. I say that as, by purchasing the radio arm as well, especially Talksport, it would give the chance for cross promotion of events, especially things on talksport, that the BBC already does. So, ITV could then give national cross promotion in continuity announcements to a football match being broadcast live on Talksport, or a major music festival on Virgin radio.

Just to ask How hard would it be to replace the I with U on the idents?

LOL. Very stupid idea, given you are neither retaining the existing brand look, nor properly familiarising viewers with the new brand. ITV would never do this - you'd have to go to so much effort you might as well just have a separate identity all together.

Why? really you have to come back with a better reason than that,.

I don't have to do anything but my post is updated with some extra info.

The current general presentation on UTV is pretty poor tbh, good riddance. Shame about losing the brand though.

Would it really be a lot of effort of change the ITV to UTV?

It would never happen.

Its a bit like changing the letters in the BBC logo to ITV. It just looks wrong.