Five eyes Flextech for multi-channel future

net1

The owners of UK's Channel Five, RTL and United Business Media are believed to be considering a merger of Britain's terrestrial channel with Flextech, the content operation that is part of cable company Telewest.

The move follows the collapse of merger talks between Five and Channel 4 last week. Over the weekend speculation was rife that Channel 4 is now looking for a collaboration deal with the BBC.

According to press reports Channel 4 is hoping the BBC will pay the lion's share of the cost of upgrading the TV transmission network to digital in time for the switch-off of the analogue signal in 2012. Channel 4 fears it will lose about £100 million (E140 million) in advertising revenues by the time the analogue signal has been switched off in 2012. CEO Andy Duncan, is this week expected to call for public funding for Channel 4, the first time it has asked for public money since it was started 24 years ago.

Five, meanwhile, is looking to expand its channels to compete with a merged ITV as well as Sky. A deal with Flextech would bring a much needed boost in content.

Weekend reports suggested RTL and fellow Five shareholder United Business Media are planning a meeting with WR Huff Asset Management, the US-based stakeholder in Telewest about a deal.

gameboy

The Independent - Greg Dyke on Broadcasting

"There has always been a belief that BSkyB would eventually end up owning Channel Five, but I suspect that's less likely today than it was a few years back."

Full interview here....

h**p://news.independent.co.uk/media/story.jsp?story=585545

Including...

"Fergie admits interview fixing"

__________________

Only he who does nothing, does nothing wrong.