U.tv set to take over the world

Published Date: August 2nd, 2006
Category: General Banter

I remember the day UTV bought over a small Belfast company called DNA internet.
A strange thing to remember but it had a big effect on how UTV online was built and they provided the first always on internet access to my house (subscription based dial-up).

Well as I am moving to scotland the feckers seem to be following me there, scary thing is its a big scary monster thats following me:

(story brought to the warthog by Mr D Tohill of Cavehill. God bless you child)

UTV is considering making a takeover bid for SMG, the owner of Scottish TV and Virgin Radio, according to The Observer.

The paper quoted a “City source” as saying: “[UTV CEO] John McCann has crunched the numbers before and if SMG’s shares fall much lower he could well have a go.”

UTV owns the Ulster Television franchise; a takeover of SMG would add the Scottish and Grampian TV licences (now identified solely as STV on-air) to its portfolio. ITV holds a 16.9% stake in SMG but it is unclear, given the turbulence at the top of the network at present, what the position of ITV CEO Charles Allen would be on a UTV takeover of SMG.

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Where do these suckers get £300 million to take over an actual company I’ve heard of? And did you know they’re now quoted as the biggest ISP in Ireland?!

If the buy-out goes ahead, they wont just own another small ‘local’ tv station, SMG also owns production companies SMG Productions and Ginger Productions (purchased in 2000 as part of Ginger Media Group - which included the UK-wide Virgin Radio - from its owner, television and radio presenter Chris Evans), outdoor billboard advertiser Primesight, and cinema advertiser Pearl & Dean, whose rival Carlton Screen Advertising is owned by ITV plc

UTV has known interests in the south and fingers in lots of pies. But can any shed some light on exactly what they own?

I wonder what would have happened to old DNA if they just held onto their little company…
An overview of UTV
Who are STV

3 Responses to “U.tv set to take over the world”

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emailed by D Tohill: Interesting points - they own Talksport! Which is actually huge in Britain, deservedly so - the football pundits are phenomenal and mop 5Live’s butt. And they do old-style DJ product placement! The PLC turnover is £92 million and rising. A publicly quoted company is typically worth between six and seven times revenue so the company is worth about £600 million. If they buy SMG they’ll have the only three (of fourteen) non-ITV owned franchises in mainland UK. Lucrative! I have also heard that in the past they made like bandits with advertising money from the Republic, even though they’re not supposed to be transmitting there.

All in all they need more impressive HQ! Sneaky …

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