RTL - Bertelsmann looking at Channel 4 takeover
Posted: Sun 14 Dec, 2008 15.56
Germans plot takeover of Channel 4
THE owner of the Five television station has asked investment bankers at JP Morgan to weigh up a takeover bid for Channel 4.
RTL, controlled by Germany’s Bertelsmann, owns 42 television channels in 10 countries and has long been trying to expand in Britain. A deal, which could cost £500m, would come four years after merger talks between the two broadcasters broke down.
State-owned Channel 4 faces a funding crisis. The regulator Ofcom believes it needs up to £100m of annual support if it is to carry on producing public-service programming.
One option being considered by Ofcom is to hand Channel 4 some of the BBC’s £3.4 billion annual licence-fee income or combine it with the BBC’s commercial arm.
THE owner of the Five television station has asked investment bankers at JP Morgan to weigh up a takeover bid for Channel 4.
RTL, controlled by Germany’s Bertelsmann, owns 42 television channels in 10 countries and has long been trying to expand in Britain. A deal, which could cost £500m, would come four years after merger talks between the two broadcasters broke down.
State-owned Channel 4 faces a funding crisis. The regulator Ofcom believes it needs up to £100m of annual support if it is to carry on producing public-service programming.
One option being considered by Ofcom is to hand Channel 4 some of the BBC’s £3.4 billion annual licence-fee income or combine it with the BBC’s commercial arm.