General : Who will buy Channel 4

[Rillington]

If Channel 4 gets privatised, who are the favourites to buy Channel 4.

It would be amusing if BBC Studios bought it…

A large American media company probably.

It would be amusing to see the BBC try, but even if it was handled entirely by their commercial operation the competition implications would be … significant.

From an article in September

https://videoweek.com/2021/09/30/who...buy-channel-4/

BBC Studios

Another home-grown option would be BBC Studios, the BBC’s commercial arm. Conservative MP Julian Knight, chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, floated this option earlier this year, and indeed Ofcom suggested the merger back in 2009 (under its previous BBC Worldwide branding) as a solution to Channel 4’s financial difficulties at the time.

Unlike a merger of ITV and Channel 4, this deal wouldn’t create competition concerns in the UK TV ad market, given that BBC Studios only sells advertising in international markets.

And there would be several upsides. BBC Studios has plenty of experience working with other UK broadcasters. It linked up with ITV to launch the subscription streaming service BritBox in the US. And Channel 4’s sales house already sells inventory for UKTV, which is owned by BBC Studios.

Channel 4 has also recently spoken about its ambitions to launch an international ad-supported video on-demand service. BBC Studios, with its experience in selling British content abroad, could be a very valuable ally.

But looking at BBC Studios’ history, it has more experience in selling businesses than buying them. Previous noises around BBC Worldwide acquiring Channel 4 ultimately came to nothing. The broadcaster’s biggest previous M&A moves are its merger with 2 Entertain in 2004, and its purchase of a 75 percent stake in Lonely Planet in 2007 – which it sold six years later.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by Rillington

If Channel 4 gets privatised, who are the favourites to buy Channel 4.

The former chief executive of Channel 4 Lord Grade and ITV are reportedly mulling takeover bids amid government plans to privatise the network. I think Sky may also bid.

---------- Post added at 16:52 ---------- Previous post was at 16:48 ----------

But I seen the following on CityAM on November 7th:

The proposed sale of Channel 4 has met delays after the new culture secretary Nadine Dorries was inundated by a spate of opposition against the move, according to reports.

Her response will now be delayed until next month (December) or even early next year, pushing any potential sale back too.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by Rillington

If Channel 4 gets privatised, who are the favourites to buy Channel 4.

Hopefully someone that might do something GOOD with it..... (I dont think BBC would)