Will be a shame to see another franchise swallowed up by ITV Plc but presentation wise UTV has needed shaking up for a long time - it does look so dated compared to the rest of the network. What would have been really interesting is for someone other than ITV Plc to buy it.
UTV Ireland will be interesting - I can't really see ITV being too interested in buying it bur I guess we'll find out later in the week. At the moment though ITV can sell their shows for a guaranteed revenue with no extra costs - no advantage to them at all in acquiring a channel in Ireland too where commercial TV is far from a licence to print money.
UTV have already sold a radio station in Liverpool to Global. I'd expect more to come to fund UTV's digital radio expansion.
Yes, aren't they resurrecting Virgin Radio?
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.
They have also been busy snapping up football commentary rights for many of their local stations.
UTV have already sold a radio station in Liverpool to Global. I'd expect more to come to fund UTV's digital radio expansion.
Yes, aren't they resurrecting Virgin Radio?
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.
They have also been busy snapping up football commentary rights for many of their local stations.
I know Wish (Wigan) and Wire (Warrington) have had Super League rights for some time now, albeit only for the local teams, interesting that UTV have been getting football though.
Again, assuming the stories are true, surely the new radio based arm won't be called UTV will it?
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Even the worst independent local station is worth 100x the patronising excuse of a station UTV will become under new ownership.
With any luck a foreign company will buy ITV sooner rather than later. That really would be good riddance.
To be fair, UTV looks dodgy because it is compared to ITV and other national channels.
Back in the 90s, UTV looked as good as any other ITV franchise. If there hadn't been any consolidation within ITV and the different franchises were somehow forced to use local presentation and completely different presentation packages, then one could imagine most regions using something on par with UTV's current look by now.
To be fair, UTV looks dodgy because it is compared to ITV and other national channels.
Back in the 90s, UTV looked as good as any other ITV franchise. If there hadn't been any consolidation within ITV and the different franchises were somehow forced to use local presentation and completely different presentation packages, then one could imagine most regions using something on par with UTV's current look by now.
That is entirely fair enough, assuming you judge a TV station by its presentation.
UTV are still providing a distinctive service to their viewers. ITV on the other hand have been engaging in a furious turd-polishing exercise for many years, despite the money they roll in.
UTV have already sold a radio station in Liverpool to Global. I'd expect more to come to fund UTV's digital radio expansion.
Yes, aren't they resurrecting Virgin Radio?
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.
They have also been busy snapping up football commentary rights for many of their local stations.
I know Wish (Wigan) and Wire (Warrington) have had Super League rights for some time now, albeit only for the local teams, interesting that UTV have been getting football though.
Again, assuming the stories are true, surely the new radio based arm won't be called UTV will it?
I would imagine the company will rename itself Talk plc. Talk as in TalkSport and TalkRadio.