Mail on Sunday: Comcast mulls £11B takeover of ITV

[mvcg66b3r]

Top executives from US media giant Comcast have met bosses at ITV and are believed to be considering an £11 billion bid for the British broadcaster.

Talks have been held between ITV and Comcast’s TV and film arm NBCUniversal, which operates the US-based NBC television channels plus a host of cable TV stations and the Universal Pictures film studio.

ITV is run by chief executive Adam Crozier and chairman Archie Norman who took over more than five years ago after it was badly hit by the slowdown in advertising as a result of the financial crisis.

The pair have revamped ITV’s management, launched more channels and boosted the firm’s production arm to ensure less dependence on advertising revenue.

During their tenure ITV’s share price has increased from 52p to 263.8p.

Any offer from Comcast, worth $140 billion (£94 billion), could pit two of the world’s biggest cable companies against each other since ITV’s biggest shareholder is Liberty Global – chaired by US billionaire John Malone – which took a 6.4 per cent stake in ITV in July last year.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/...-UK-broadcaster-holds-talks-NBCUniversal.html

 

[landtuna]

I wonder how much of ITV's value is a result of their production of "Downton Abbey"?

 

[BMR]

Viacom already own channel five in the UK but ITV is far older and more established with a much higher share of the UK market.

I wonder how much of ITV's value is a result of their production of "Downton Abbey"?

They do make other shows you know!

The last episode ever of Downton screens in the UK tomorrow. ..

 

[landtuna]

They do make other shows you know!

Yes, and some good ones too, but Downton Abbey is the first I can remember, perhaps since Upstairs, Downstairs, that has a huge international following.