Media
Virgin Media seeks buyer for TV unit
Published Thursday, Mar 5 2009, 08:43 GMT | By James Welsh
Virgin Media's content division has been placed on the market with UBS appointed to advise on the sale, according to The Times.
The news comes one day after the unit's chief executive Malcolm Wall announced he was leaving the company to "pursue other business interests".
Virgin Media Television comprises the Virgin 1, Living, Bravo, Trouble and Challenge suite of channels, a 50% stake in the UKTV joint venture with BBC Worldwide, and Sit-Up TV's shopping channels.
The move could allow BBC Worldwide to exercise a change of control clause that would permit it to buy the remaining 50% of UKTV ahead of any third party. UKTV is thought to be one of the main planks of any proposed partnership between BBC Worldwide and Channel 4.
The news comes one day after the unit's chief executive Malcolm Wall announced he was leaving the company to "pursue other business interests".
Virgin Media Television comprises the Virgin 1, Living, Bravo, Trouble and Challenge suite of channels, a 50% stake in the UKTV joint venture with BBC Worldwide, and Sit-Up TV's shopping channels.
The move could allow BBC Worldwide to exercise a change of control clause that would permit it to buy the remaining 50% of UKTV ahead of any third party. UKTV is thought to be one of the main planks of any proposed partnership between BBC Worldwide and Channel 4.
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