UTV confirm possible sale of television services

August 24, 2015

UTV, the ITV broadcaster and production company for Northern Ireland has confirmed that the company is “in discussions” over the future of the television service. Over the weekend local newspaper The Belfast Telegraph reported UTV were about to sell off the regional service to ITVplc – the company which operates the ITV regions in England and Wales.

A sale to ITV would bring about the end of local ownership of UTV – launched in 1959 as Ulster Television – and would also see a dramatic cut in local programming – ITVplc currently operate their regions as ‘one ITV’ with no local flavour other than regional news and political output. ITV in Wales has slightly more ‘local slots’ however far less than UTV currently offer.

Currently UTV is one of the best performing regional stations in the UK, with STV Central and STV North, in Scotland, currently the only other ITV services outside of ITVplc’s control. Regional news show UTV Live pulls in a quarter of a million viewers nightly for the station, while other local programmes have proved popular with viewers including farming series Rare Breed – which in 2013 pulled in over 200,000 viewers – archaeological production Ulster Unearthed, lifestyle series The Magazine with Sarah Travers, Paul and Nick’s Big Food Trip starring chefs Paul Rankin and Nick Nairn – attracting audiences in excess of 150,000 per programme, outperforming the ITV network average – and Ultimate Ulster which was not only the most watched non-news programme on UTV during its run, but also the most watched regional programme in the whole of the UK. At the time of UTV’s biggest successes the station boasted:

“When it comes to local programmes, we are always keen to give our viewers what they want” – Michael Wilson, Managing Director, UTV Television speaking in 2013

Earlier this year the television division of parent company UTV Media was expanded with the launch in Ireland of a sister station on January 1st. UTV at the time stated the arrival of UTV Ireland would ‘strengthen’ the television broadcast and production arm of UTV Media which also owns radio stations in Northern Ireland and the UK. The deal, if it goes ahead, will not include the sale of the oral media division which includes TalkSport and U105 as well as sixteen local radio stations.

“UTV has had a strong broadcasting presence in Ireland for over 55 years. We now look forward to further strengthening our presence in Irish public life, through UTV Ireland, in the years ahead.” – John McCann, Group Chief Executive, UTV Media speaking in December 2014

However in less than 12 months it seems UTV Media shareholders and executives may now be looking to end the company’s nearly sixty years of independent ITV ownership. A spokesperson confirmed today:

“The Board of UTV Media plc notes the recent media speculation and confirms that it is in discussions regarding a potential sale of its television assets (UTV and UTV Ireland). Discussions are ongoing and may or may not result in such a transaction being agreed. A further announcement will be made when appropriate.”

In 2011 Channel Television, which had served the Channel Islands since 1962, was bought out by ITVplc and in 2009 breakfast station GMTV was purchased by the company. ITVplc was formed in 2004 with the takeover of Carlton Television by Granada Television, merging their ITV services together. Prior to this each company had operated the English regions and Wales ITV services as regional brands with a mix of local interest productions.

Carlton Regions: HTV West (West of England), HTV Wales, (Wales), Central Television (Midlands), Carlton (London weekdays) and Westcountry (South West).

Granada Regions: Border TV (Cumbria), Granada (North West), Tyne Tees (North East), YTV (Yorkshire), Anglia (East), LWT (London weekends) and Meridian (South).