Rumours are rife that media moguls outside the UK are eyeing up ITV companies Carlton and Granada – excited by government moves that might allow a merged ITV, and foreign ownership of British broadcasters. But the consensus is current bosses – Charles Allen at Granada and Michael Green at Carlton – would have to go if a takeover occurs. Certainly some investors in this country, despite a slow recovery in ITV’s viewing figures, have lost patience with the two media chiefs and don't see them running a merged ITV once any merger is complete.
According to the Media Guardian some unnamed interested parties have been talking to current and former ITV bigwigs in a bid to research the potential of the merged network – with venture capital groups Texas Pacific and Apax and American media magnate Haim Saban all rumoured to be considering an acquisition attempt at some point in the next few years.