LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - ITV, Britain's biggestfree-to-air commercial broadcaster, said it had agreed to buythe TV business of Northern Irish network partner UTV for 100 million pounds ($154 million) in cash.
The deal will put 13 of 15 channel 3 licences in the handsof ITV, and the company said the combined business would benefitfrom ITV's investment in content, its advertising sales team andbroadcast infrastructure.
UTV will retain its radio businesses UTV Radio GB and UTVRadio Ireland, and its digital media businesses, Simply Zestyand Tibus Digital, ITV said on Monday.($1 = 0.6474 pounds) (Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Kate Holton)
