UTV confirms it is in talks to sell its television assets

Northern Ireland’s UTV Media Plc, one of only two remaining independent regional broadcasters in the ITV network, is in talks to sell its TV franchise to the dominant ITV Plc, according to reports.

The sale, reported in the Belfast Telegraph yesterday, is due to be confirmed to the London Stock Exchange this week.

UTV is the Northern Irish equivalent of ITV, broadcasting a combination of local shows and ITV programs such as the soap opera Coronation Street.

Some of Northern Ireland’s best-loved personalities have made their name on UTV, including Gloria Hunniford, Eamonn Holmes, Frank Mitchell, Anne Hailes, Julian Simmons and Pamela Ballantine.

Today’s confirmation mentions assets rather than asset, so would assume to include the recently launched UTV Ireland as well.

“As a plc we never comment on speculation”.

Alex DeGroote, a media analyst at UK-based broker Peel Hunt, has predicted that UTV Ireland is unlikely to survive past its first year.

UTV will give its half-year results next Friday, August 28. Juice FM Liverpool has already been sold to Global and is pending regulatory approval.