Capital boss David Mansfield may be holding two fingers up at Clear Channel (that is to say he has said he won't be looking to be acquired by the US radio giant even if new legislation allows them to), but Emap bosses have distanced themselves from anti-takeover talk.
Mansfield hopes that when the media ownership rules are relaxed under the communications bill, Capital will be a buyer rather than bought. But Emap finance director, Gary Hughes has said: "It's not our job as a public company to resist things." Though he added: "I'm not sure Clear Channel would be in the bidding for Emap as a whole, and we are certainly not putting our radio business up for sale."