RTL, the company behind Channel Five, is willing to consider sweetening its bid to merge with Channel 4 by offering a cash dowry to boost its share of an enlarged broadcaster. The idea has been conveyed to ministers, who are seriously considering only two options for the future of the state-owned broadcaster behind Big Brother and Slumdog Millionaire. A Channel 4-Five merger is seen as the only possible alternative to a partnership between Channel 4 and Worldwide, the BBC’s commercial subsidiary. Other options, such as funding Channel 4 by transferring money direct from the BBC, are set aside. Ministers are yet to have detailed talks with RTL as to how much money might be on offer — although the sum could exceed £100 million. Insiders said that RTL “can bring in assets in the form of cash as well as its British channels” to a tie-up. RTL’s problem is that it is likely to run up significant losses this year, with turnover expected to be 15 to 20 per cent down on last year’s £341 million — making it difficult to secure a large minority share in a tie-up. Channel 4 faces similar pressures, but with revenue at £945 million in 2017, the last figure publicly available, it is significantly larger. Cash from RTL, part of a pan-European group owned by Bertelsmann, of Germany, would help to boost its stake. Channel 4’s bosses are opposed to a Five merger, even on better terms, and if ministers want to pursue the Anglo-German deal, Luke Johnson, its chairman, and Andy Duncan, chief executive, are likely to resign. Channel 4 is continuing to talk to BBC Worldwide about combining the BBC DVD distribution and pay-television divisions with E4 and More4, the digital channels. Momentum behind those discussions has slowed recently and the revelation that RTL is to consider a cash sweetener could be an attempt to put pressure on Channel 4 and the BBC to reach agreement. Any cash from RTL could be used to support Channel 4’s own £140 million reserves or to fund a £350 million bid for the half of pay broadcaster UK TV that Virgin Media has put up for sale. ，英语论文，英语论文范文 |
