03-07-2022, 02:08 AM
It's worth noting that there were attempts at unity way before even the 1991 franchise round.
It could be argued that 2002 was the culmination of a 13-year plan. Even if Thames won in London, the endgame would have been remarkably similar if not identical.
Carlton would have bought their way in. Central with its £2k a year levy had hostile takeover written all over it. Granada would have had no less of an appetite for expansion and that would have still fostered a culture of "acquire or be acquired." You'd still have a duopoly - which after 2002 acted like a single player anyway.
It could be argued that 2002 was the culmination of a 13-year plan. Even if Thames won in London, the endgame would have been remarkably similar if not identical.
Carlton would have bought their way in. Central with its £2k a year levy had hostile takeover written all over it. Granada would have had no less of an appetite for expansion and that would have still fostered a culture of "acquire or be acquired." You'd still have a duopoly - which after 2002 acted like a single player anyway.