Media
ITV 'planning merger with Channel 4, Five'
Published Thursday, Feb 26 2009, 14:43 GMT | By Neil Wilkes
ITV has suggested radical plans to merge with commercial rivals Channel 4 and Five in an effort to cut costs, according to a report in The Guardian.
The new entity would be better placed to effectively compete with the likes of the BBC and BSkyB, ITV executives have apparently told the government.
The merger would require approval from the government as the new broadcaster would command more than 60% of the TV advertising market.
"Every broadcaster, along with the government and Ofcom, is seeking radical solutions to the problem of how to provide sustainable, guaranteed public service competition to the BBC," said an ITV spokesman. "ITV is fully engaged in that debate, which must include exploring all options for the future, including a number of radical ideas."
The new entity would be better placed to effectively compete with the likes of the BBC and BSkyB, ITV executives have apparently told the government.
The merger would require approval from the government as the new broadcaster would command more than 60% of the TV advertising market.
"Every broadcaster, along with the government and Ofcom, is seeking radical solutions to the problem of how to provide sustainable, guaranteed public service competition to the BBC," said an ITV spokesman. "ITV is fully engaged in that debate, which must include exploring all options for the future, including a number of radical ideas."
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