What happens if Sky takes over ITV?

prowla

ITV in talks to sell television business to Sky

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czxk7j87xd0o

brewerdave

Very early talks - and I can't believe the Government (of whatever hue) could stand idly by and allow ITV to go behind a paywall.

LabLady19

brewerdave said:

Very early talks - and I can't believe the Government (of whatever hue) could stand idly by and allow ITV to go behind a paywall.

Surely Sky are interested in the advertising revenue from the current FTA model?

p00hsticks

brewerdave said:

Very early talks - and I can't believe the Government (of whatever hue) could stand idly by and allow ITV to go behind a paywall.

It doesn't actually follow that that would be the case as there are already some intermediate scenarios - for example, ITVX already has a charge for ad-free screening, and Sky Arts at least is available for free on Freeview & Freesat. 

Largs

For me the output on ITV is rubbish and I never watch it. 

Only 2 things that are the exception.  The one where the major tried to cheat "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and they made a 3 part drama of it.  The other drama they done and I couldn't move from my chair was the the one about the Post Office. 

ITV seem to appeal to a certain demographic, Loose Women, Lorraine, This Morning etc.  I can't even watch their news output or breakfast televison  I won't say the word as I'd be being unkind.

$KY Television used to make some great TV, Mile High, Is Harry on the Boat - real escapism and you'd look forward to the next episode. 

If the outcome is better TV then good.  If it means more jungles, dancing on ice rinks and spin offs from essex then I will contiue not to watch it.

MouldyOldDough

Don't forget that Sky is now owned by Comcast (USA)

And what Trump wants - Trump gets !

Neil_Jones

brewerdave said:

Very early talks - and I can't believe the Government (of whatever hue) could stand idly by and allow ITV to go behind a paywall.

ITV has PSB requirements which include (amongst other things) local news, and showing stuff that doesn't make them any money.   None of which its not going to be able to fill behind a paywall if nobody can see it.

Anyway ITV given the right programmes will generate viewing figures far in excess of anything Sky does because of the paywall..  Sky's most watched sport event last year was the golf - and that only attracted 1.8m viewers which was (it says here) a third of the total TV viewership which is you extrapolate upwards suggests there were only six million viewers overall.  Football coverage seems to only attract an average of 1.5m viewers per match.  The trend is downwards.

Bigphil1474

Can't see it changing much beyond the content - might be some Sky content making it to ITV for the ad revenue. I think ITV X is pretty rubbish, but they do have some good content on ITV, despite the plethora of reality nonsense, just needs to be recorded to skip the ads.