Member Info for BigEgo

80.00p yesterday

81.00p today

Markets aren’t manipulated. But … just for fun:

ChatGPT: “Calculate the odds of a FTSE share price closing at an exact round number of pence 2 days in a row”

“Round” = ends in 00 pence

(i.e. whole pound, examples: £1.23 → 123p is not whole; £1.00 → 100p is whole).

•Probability one day = 1/100 = 0.01 (1%)

•Two days in a row = (1/100)² = 1/10,000 = 0.0001 = 0.01%

•Odds against: 9,999 : 1

Any mathematicians can confirm this?

Roll on 82.00p tomorrow I guess! :)

Nice 5million UT to close the day at yet another exact round number, 81p this time.

For context this link is from back in June 2025. Perhaps the SeekingAlpha guy is referring to the fact a commercial relationship now exists between Sky and RTL which may lead to further asset transfers in future? Looking forward to their next ITV article - they tend to publish interesting stuff.

“RTL Group to acquire Sky Deutschland”

Https://company.rtl.com/export/sites/rtlunited/en/media/overview/press-releases-and-news/rtl-group-to-acquire-sky-deutschland/

I recall sharing this article ages ago - it was a good piece of the value of ITV.

Https://seekingalpha.com/article/4730596-time-to-go-long-undervalued-high-yielding-uk-broadcaster-itv#scroll_comments

Here is the authors response to recent events, and sounds like SeekingAlpha will be doing a follow up article soon:

“Joris Gijzendorffen

08 Nov. 2025, 7:20 AM

Analyst

Comments (617)

@ITV INVESTOR thank you for the very kind comment. It's motivating to know that the article was so well received. Wrt your request: yes, there's no doubt ample new material to write about when it comes to ITV. I've been following the recent events, starting with the quiet withdrawal of Liberty as the largest owner of ITV equity with interest (I can't rule out that the withdrawal of Liberty and the appearance of Sky are connected events).

To make matters even more interesting, there's also been relevant developments surrounding RTL Group on Europe's mainland that are best understood when viewed in connection with ITV. Let me do some scheduling with the Seeking Alpha editors and follow up soon. Br.”

“BARB’s definition of “television” becomes meaningless. Because approving Sky–ITV is effectively accepting that YouTube is TV after all.”

“Either social video competes with TV, or it doesn’t. This deal will decide. If it does, Google is Britain’s biggest broadcaster.”

“So when the CMA and Ofcom assess this merger, they’re not just approving a transaction — they’re defining television itself.

If they allow it, they accept that UK TV now operates inside a global digital-video market. That means rewriting CRR, reforming measurement, and redefining PSB duties for an algorithmic age.

If they block it, they preserve a model that no longer matches how people watch or advertisers buy.”

“The most consequential merger in UK media history”

Https://omaroakes.substack.com/p/stories-that-matter-the-most-consequential

“With Sky now bidding for ITV’s channels, it holds the power to challenge and potentially undermine Freeview’s successor.”

“How Sky tried (and failed) to undermine Freeview”

Https://rxtvinfo.com/2025/how-sky-tried-and-failed-to-undermine-freeview/

“The strategic logic lies in yield, data and leverage. “Combining Sky’s addressable advertising technology with ITV’s mass reach to create a single, data-driven proposition that keeps UK TV ad budgets within the domestic ecosystem, rather than losing them to Google and Meta – and potentially opening new routes to SME advertisers,”

“How the Sky-ITV Deal “Could Reshape UK TV Landscape”

Https://lbbonline.com/news/itv-sky-talks-2025

Holy cr&p - thank goodness this is the BBC and not ITV!

“BBC latest: Trump threatens to sue BBC for $1bn if it misses deadline 'to comply' with three demands”

Https://news.sky.com/story/bbc-resignations-director-general-tim-davie-and-ceo-of-bbc-news-issue-statements-after-resigning-13467560

Well this has changed.

Https://shorttracker.co.uk/company/GB0033986497/

Ok no fireworks today but:

1) We finished up and the 1.3% is gratefully received

2) We reclaimed the 8x zone, just!

3) We didn’t give back all or any of the 16% jump Friday

I’ll take this as a win today.

Also what are the odds we closed at exactly 80.0p - odd or not?!

Good idea.

I’m sure there will be loads of conditions to be hammered out - to do with both past and future content.

“The back catalogue of programmes produced by ITV is owned by ITV Studios, the production and distribution arm of the parent company ITV plc. ITV Studios handles the production and worldwide distribution of content made by its numerous production labels (both in the UK and internationally) and a vast library of acquired film and TV rights, which includes the catalogues of the Rank Organisation and ITC Entertainment. The content is then distributed globally to broadcasters, platforms, and is available for streaming on ITV's own service, ITVX. ”

Er no I I can’t confirm the back catalogue will or wont be part of any deal as I’m not an ITV board member, hehe, just a private shareholder like you.

What I can do, and did below, is do some basic digging online and that indicates to me the current ownership is as per text below. Post deal - you’ll have to wait and see.. but seems likely it’s part of ITV Studios “Global Formats & Distribution” division.

Thanks. I know it’s disappointing there is no follow through upwards push today - however on the plus side we are (currently God it changes by the second) up and so have managed to hold onto the +16% move from Friday - even with the uncertainty still there about Libertys final 5% plans.

I remain positively optimistic!

The joint Sky / ITV share of “UK TV advertising” is 70% and considering this in isolation I agree seems a high hurdle for regulatory approval.

However there has been plenty of commentary over the weekend that their share of “UK Video Advertising” which brings Google, Meta etc into the equation is much smaller and therefore less of a concern.

Regulatory approval seems to hinge on this pivotal point and I have read and shared here articles stating that a) some within the CMA agree the UK advertising landscape has changed and b) Sky have engaged “Flint Global” (which includes a former Labour minister and the former CEO of Ofcom) to bring about this shift of assessment through political lobbying.

For example search for this post on ADVFN:

“BigEgoADVFN9 Nov '25 - 09:16 - 14257

And more on that lobbying… (only one media outlet has picked up on Flint Global so far)”

And as noted by Reuters

“Meta and Google captured about 60% of UK ad spend in 2024”

Https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/itv-talks-with-comcasts-sky-215-billion-media-unit-sale-2025-11-07/

Against this - the case for Sky/ITV is much stronger.

And taking YouTube as an example - they take a huge % of the UK video ad market but operate with little regulatory oversight and obviously no PSB obligations. If all the regulatory bodies acknowledge this brave new world for advertising - this deal will pass I feel.

But it’s not just gossip is it.

We have an RNS from ITV, a rare gem!

We know ITV have engaged bankers to manage their side of any deal.

We also know (I have shared links here) that Sky have engaged Flint Global to lobby government for a change in advertising landscape assessment - I can share again.

This isn’t gossip outside a pub in Fenchurch Street.

After the BBC implosion - what are the odds McCall is offered the BBC Director General role leaving Andrew Cosslett / Chris Kennedy to transition M&E off to Sky and Studios off to xyz? Surely she must be a contender?

I said anything could happen!!!

Https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vn25d5dq7o.amp

Synic: “M&E includes the 50yr+ back catalogue which the city valued at £3bn when the dum woman joined on 2018.”

I disagree, but we need to know the details of the separation to confirm.

“The back catalogue of programmes produced by ITV is owned by ITV Studios, the production and distribution arm of the parent company ITV plc. ITV Studios handles the production and worldwide distribution of content made by its numerous production labels (both in the UK and internationally) and a vast library of acquired film and TV rights, which includes the catalogues of the Rank Organisation and ITC Entertainment. The content is then distributed globally to broadcasters, platforms, and is available for streaming on ITV's own service, ITVX. ”

while searching for any political reaction (nothing yet) i did find an interesting link to the moment back in 2018 when the culture secretary at the time matt han**** said he was "not minded" to refer the comcast bid for sky for scrutiny on public interest grounds to the cma (to the disappointment of rival fox).

https://news.sky.com/story/government-clears-way-for-comcasts-sky-takeover-11380755

this time around the decision above will fall on current culture secretary lisa nandy…

Indeed. Even after the 16% rise on Friday this still looks cheap in my opinion.

The huge news flow this weekend and realisations that the regulatory side might not be the impossible barrier some initially thought - should support the price on Mondays open - let’s see what happens!