Interestingly on the Capital front, according to one Sunday paper, Capital have already discussed selling the TV franchise to Granada...

the same paper also said though that Granada owns a large franchise 'to the south'.

Hmmm. Yes. Get you're facts right why don't you cos Granada Media owns THREE large franchises 'to the south'. Four if you include LWT...

Breaking News from BBC Online says that Capital have won the fight to buy Border, paying £146m as opposed to £141m offered by SRH. According to the report they seem to be keeping the "extremely well run" television franchise.

Border is "extremely well run"
Granada runs it in all but name. The shareholders still get a good dividend without having to employ many people.

Now the Capital takeover has been recommended by the board expect in the short term for things to stay as they are. In the medium term Border TV will be sold off as TV (and a small ITV station at that) is not in their core business and the Century brand to be replaced by Capital Gold stations, as all these licence areas do not have a Capital presence and the Century brand has taken a severe knock in the last year since the departure of its creater John Myers.

>Now the Capital takeover has been recommended by the board expect in the short term for things to stay as they are. In the medium term Border TV will be sold off as TV (and a small ITV station at that) is not in their core business and the Century brand to be replaced by Capital Gold stations, as all these licence areas do not have a Capital presence and the Century brand has taken a severe knock in the last year since the departure of its creater John Myers.


While they *may* rebrand the Century stations, Capital won't be able to network them - you're not allowed to network FM stations. Besides, Century is still a strong brand - they'd be mad to scrap it.

Today's "Scotsman" reports that while Capital look to have won the race to buy Border, it may be seen as a move to force the other interested parties to declare their bids. Certainly Border doesn't seem to fit in with Capital's core business and I wouldn't expect Capital to keep the Border ITV franchise for long. If they do sell it to Granada, I have a feeling that the area will ultimately be split between them and SMG come the next franchise round.

This week's events have attracted the attention of the ITC, who have promised to take action if Border is run-down by new owners. In my opinion they've acted too late, as Border has taken various programmes from Granada in the last few years (ie Granada Tonight - The Late Debate, Granada Sports Action and Granada Soccer Night) despite the fact that they appeal to only part of its franchise area. The fact that it now takes its trailers and some annoucments centrally, and the abandonment of the "B" logo last year suggests that it's already been run-down. Surely it would be better now to divide Border's area up rather than let it die a slow, painful death.

Capital have already decided that they are not going to be a TV group - they have today sold Border TV to Granada for £50 million (according to BBC News Online). I wonder if this will have any affect on the Carlton/United merger (as Granada now has 5 franchises, compaired to the 6 Carlton/United would have) or Granada's threat to buy either Carlton or United?

I agree with Steven Oliver, Border's days must now surely be numbered. If I remember correctly Border have not yet renewed their franchise with the ITC, so it's breakup could be sooner than we all think.

Granada are known to want United. As they have 4 franchise areas (3 companies but one is split) this latest takeover would leave Granada holding 9 of the 16 ITV companies, with Carlton lagging far behind. Carlton's only option here, to stay competitive, would be to buy up SMG. "Interesting" times lie ahead...

Granada has made two bids, one for Carlton and one for United.
Decision time is June, I think.

Sorry, what I meant to say was "Granada are known to prefer United as a takeover target".

And now Border are dead.

>And now Border are dead.
>
>
> I can't see Granada closing Border down. The only thing they could do would be to merge the region with Tyne Tees so it shadows the BBC region but what would be the point of this as Tyne Tees would still have to provide a news opt-out. The only the way they would do it is if the merged Tyne Tees and Border full stop with a new name, Granada perhaps. (Carlton wouldn't think twice). However its unlikely as Border is held in high affection by its viewers

Granada seem too keen on regional names. I'd predict for now, Border stays. Lets face it, it fits well into Granada's northern domination. The long term future of the franchise area though has to be addressed.

But would Tyne Tees viewers be impressed if Cumbria suddenly came into their fold and their station got renamed?

>But would Tyne Tees viewers be impressed if Cumbria suddenly came into their fold and their station got renamed?



How about Channel 3 North East, Cumbria, South West Scotland, the Borders and the Isle of Man?
Kinda snappy, eh?

>How about Channel 3 North East, Cumbria, South West Scotland, the Borders and the Isle of Man?
>Kinda snappy, eh?

Or even Tyne Tees and Border Television, broadcasting on Channel 3 in the North East of England, North Yorkshire, Cumbria, South West Scotland, the Borders and the Isle of Man, on ITV from the heart of your region. Even snappier

Manchester Evening News reports that Granada and Capital have done a deal. Capital takes over radio while Granada takes over TV for £50m.5m.
SRH has dropped its bid.