TV Live Forum

MrBiggieSMLZ post_id=32006 time= user_id=1110 Wrote:Well, as it turns out, the rumors are somewhat true! That being that Discovery (soon to possibly be merged with WarnerMedia, of course) is apparently exploring a Channel 4 takeover, as are rivals like ITV and Comcast (via Sky). Here's where that came from:
https://www.reuters.com/business/discove...021-07-31/

I'd picture Warner Bros. Discovery buying them over Comcast and ITV and should this happen, then this would leave ITV the only non-BBC channel not owned by an American media company.

MrBiggieSMLZ post_id=32048 time= user_id=1110 Wrote:My money's on Discovery, seeing as it has expanded its UK footprint significantly. BTW, Out of curiosity, do you think the likes of BT or even Disney could be a possible suitor?

Definitely not BT.

BT for me would have probably been the best fit but considering they're looking to exit BT Sport it seems unlikely. That said though C4 is profitable, unlike it seems BT Sport.


Discovery may benefit more from All 4's success in the free to air commercial streaming market rather than the linear channels. Discovery+ is a tough sell in a crowded market, but perhaps with a link to All 4 it could be a step to encouraging more subscribers.

Brekkie post_id=32058 time= user_id=976 Wrote:Discovery may benefit more from All 4's success in the free to air commercial streaming market rather than the linear channels. Discovery+ is a tough sell in a crowded market, but perhaps with a link to All 4 it could be a step to encouraging more subscribers.

That and some of the notable shows on E4 are produced by WB, considering that Discovery are merging with Warner Media after all.

A lot of quite safe (boring) suggestions in here, I’d like to think someone a bit more left field might be interested. I don’t know a great deal about arte or how likely they are to even be an option, but that’s the sort of owners I’d like to see. Someone who might actually wrestle it back to something like it was set up to be.

all new Phil post_id=32085 time= user_id=865 Wrote:A lot of quite safe (boring) suggestions in here, I’d like to think someone a bit more left field might be interested. I don’t know a great deal about arte or how likely they are to even be an option, but that’s the sort of owners I’d like to see. Someone who might actually wrestle it back to something like it was set up to be.

ARTE? That is a joint venture between the public broadcasters of France and Germany, I don't think that they are in any position to buy Channel 4

I wouldn't surprised if the companies expressing interest in Channel 4 is more of the tactic of assessing the value of the broadcaster as C4 doesn't own IPs.

Roger Darthwell post_id=32095 time= user_id=1160 Wrote:ARTE? That is a joint venture between the public broadcasters of France and Germany, I don't think that they are in any position to buy Channel 4

all new Phil post_id=32085 time= user_id=865 Wrote:A lot of quite safe (boring) suggestions in here, I’d like to think someone a bit more left field might be interested. I don’t know a great deal about arte or how likely they are to even be an option, but that’s the sort of owners I’d like to see. Someone who might actually wrestle it back to something like it was set up to be.

Sigh.

Mateus Honrado post_id=32059 time= user_id=992 Wrote:

Brekkie post_id=32058 time= user_id=976 Wrote:Discovery may benefit more from All 4's success in the free to air commercial streaming market rather than the linear channels. Discovery+ is a tough sell in a crowded market, but perhaps with a link to All 4 it could be a step to encouraging more subscribers.

That and some of the notable shows on E4 are produced by WB, considering that Discovery are merging with Warner Media after all.

Straying slightly off topic but looks like some WB content such as Dawson's Creek and Buffy/Angel has disappeared off All4 in the last few weeks. I'm assuming we're not yet in a position where such content might be swallowed up by Discovery+ as part of this deal.

Not before the merger is completed, that's for sure. And even then, will Discovery+ and HBO Max be merging in the US? If not, I wouldn't expect WB shows on Discovery+ here either.

JAS84 post_id=32109 time= user_id=881 Wrote:Not before the merger is completed, that's for sure. And even then, will Discovery+ and HBO Max be merging in the US? If not, I wouldn't expect WB shows on Discovery+ here either.

I predict HBO Max and Discovery+ will merge, basically. Disney has like three core streaming services (Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu), so it would kinda make sense if WBD had one large streaming service to counter other competitors like Netflix.

Channel 4 would be in better hands with a British company such as ITV or Sky.
Both will want to scale their returns and that’s bad news for the independent production companies.
As with their own licences, they’ll want to renegotiate their PSB commitments. Unless ITV move more PSB content to Channel 4 in a deal with Ofcom.

The best option in my opinion would be to let BBC Studios run it as a spin off company. Eg “BBC Studios 4”and it’s run as it is without any Government ‘involvement’ -

But the whole of point of this is highest bidder, so Government won’t really care as long as they get ££££.

Jexedback post_id=32241 time= user_id=1018 Wrote:Channel 4 would be in better hands with a British company such as ITV or Sky.

Sky is owned by Comcast - a US company.

Does anyone know if Channel 4 is sold off, when it would happen, and would it take long for the process to take place?

I think it is madness in selling it - as Channel 4 has a very good funding model, by not taking a penny of public money, it sells its own advertising and sponsorship and so why sell it?

If the government is blocked from selling C4 then they can convince Comcast/Sky to buy ITV to keep the hunger for British media consolidation alive.

JK1985 post_id=32252 time= user_id=1347 Wrote:Does anyone know if Channel 4 is sold off, when it would happen, and would it take long for the process to take place?

I think it is madness in selling it - as Channel 4 has a very good funding model, by not taking a penny of public money, it sells its own advertising and sponsorship and so why sell it?

It's purely political. For the same culture minister to try three times in 25 years it can't be anything but. It does feel like this time though it might happen.


What this process does highlight though is firstly how US dominated the media landscape is now with ITV seemingly the only big UK originated player who could potentially put in a bid, and secondly how big companies buying out big companies to become even bigger companies is in the long term usually not great for the industry or the consumer.