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Red - yeah and Zucker is even quoted in the article below: “The former CNN boss expressed a strong desire to continue investing in Britain, pointing to impressive growth prospects for media businesses.”

He’s literally confirming how attractive ITV is - well current shareholders can enjoy that growth instead, thanks Zuck.

https://stockmark.it/redbird-imi-criticises-uk-regulations-after-itv-studios-deal-collapse/

Well this is an interesting twist…

It seems that Deadline posted an article at about 6am today that had 90% of the content this afternoons article had - but crucially without the extra bit about ITV…

It appears that someone took this mornings article, added in the (already generally assumed fact that the ITV deal was not proceeding) and released the more market sensitive article later the same day.

Here’s the proof:

Https://deadline.com/2025/09/redbirdimi-jeff-zucker-all3media-investment-1236546646/

Have investors been played today? We will find out at 8am!

Well for a few minutes you could buy ITV for 76p. It’s already bounced back to 80p as I type.

What a gift. You have to be nimble on your toes when the market is giving away free money.

“RedBird IMI has scrapped plans to acquire the production arm of ITV, as the investment vehicle’s chief executive decried the UK regulatory environment.

RedBird IMI, the Abu Dhabi-backed vehicle whose bid for the Daily Telegraph was blocked by the UK last year, held preliminary talks with ITV earlier this year with a view to merging the broadcaster’s studio arm with rival All3Media, which RedBird IMI had bought for £1.1bn.

But those talks stalled some time ago and the group is not currently interested in a deal with the broadcaster, according to a person familiar with the matter.

A merged production group would have been worth more than £3bn and would have brought together the UK studios responsible for shows including Love Island, Traitors and Rivals.

Walking away from any immediate plans to bid for ITV comes despite ambitious plans for All3Media. RedBird IMI’s New York-based boss, Jeff Zucker, told the Royal Television Society conference in Cambridge on Wednesday that RedBird IMI — which focuses on sport, media and entertainment — wanted to “keep growing” the production company.

But Zucker also gave a gloomy assessment of the UK’s investment environment. He said the UK’s regulations — particularly surrounding initial public offerings — were too onerous, and meant the investment group would not want to list portfolio companies in the country.

“I think about the public markets here. In the first half of this year there were less IPOs than there had been in 30 years . . . So as we think about investing in companies that we want to grow and eventually take public, London is not necessarily the place where you want to do that,” Zucker said.

Zucker, who previously led CNN, cited figures first published in the Financial Times, that fundraising from IPOs in London has tumbled to its lowest level in at least 30 years.

The five listings on the London Stock Exchange in the first six months of this year raised £160mn, the lowest half-year amount since 1995, according to Dealogic data.

“We want to invest in companies here . . . But unless the regulatory environment and the rules around capital on the LSEG change, I don’t think that is something that we would look to do,” Zucker added.

The withdrawal of RedBird IMI from the ITV process leaves potential bidders such as French production group Banijay.

Options explored by the French company include an offer for ITV Studios or a full takeover of London-listed ITV. The latter would be likely to mean Banijay would seek to bring in third-party investors, with the company having held talks with CVC to finance a deal.

Shares of ITV have risen more than 10 per cent since the beginning of the year amid takeover speculation.

ITV, Banijay and All3Media declined to comment.

RedBird IMI did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

”

ITV is currently + 2.24% and all this forum can do is post childish messages about other users they don’t like.

Idiots looking the wrong way. Never changes.

Well I said yesterday that the Paramount / Warner bid news would bring fresh focus to the media sector (which can only help visibility of value trapped in ITV) and I was right!

First article mentioning the deal and also mentioning ITVs situation. The parallel is obviously around splitting broadcast and studios divisions, and I expect there will be more articles on this topic in the near future.

All attention is useful!

“The scale of the Ellison move puts the efforts of ITV chief executive Carolyn McCall to secure the future of the UK broadcaster's brilliant studios through a transforming deal into some perspective.”

Https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/comment/article-15093133/ALEX-BRUMMER-Ellisons-set-scoop-Warner-Bros.html?ico=comment-anchor

ChatGPT: Here are several credible candidates and profiles who might be considered to succeed Carolyn McCall as CEO of ITV.

Jay Hunt

Television executive; ex-Channel 4 Chief Creative Officer; now in streaming/creative roles.

Strong creative vision, understands content and digital platforms, good fit for ITV’s content-led strategy.

Alex Mahon

CEO of Channel 4 (stepping down 2025), background in TV production and commercial strategy.

Proven broadcaster CEO, regulatory and public profile experience, could adapt to ITV’s commercial focus.

Rufus Radcliffe

Former ITV executive (marketing, streaming, data), now CEO of STV.

Knows ITV from inside, strong digital/streaming background, continuity candidate with leadership credentials.

Michael Jermey

Longtime ITV director of News & Current Affairs.

Trusted internal figure, deep ITV knowledge, steady leadership potential though less digital focus.

Claudia Rosencrantz

Veteran TV executive, former ITV Entertainment Controller, senior commissioning roles.

Track record in big-audience entertainment, understands ITV’s core strengths in primetime content.

Kevin Lygo

ITV Managing Director of Media & Entertainment.

Highly experienced, already runs ITV’s key divisions, continuity candidate with commercial and creative clout.

Carolyn Fairbairn

Former ITV Strategy & Development Director, ex-CBI Director-General.

Blend of ITV familiarity and wider business/regulatory leadership, credible to markets and government.

Tim Davie

Director-General of the BBC, strong commercial arm experience (BBC Studios).

Deep broadcasting experience, proven at scale, though moving from public service to ITV’s purely commercial remit would be a shift.

Tony Hall

Former BBC Director-General, also ex-CEO of the Royal Opera House.

Senior broadcasting statesman, high credibility with regulators and creative sectors, though perhaps older than ITV would want.

Maria Kyriacou

ITV President of International Markets, previously at Disney/Viacom.

Knows ITV well, strong international and commercial credentials, natural internal successor.

David Zaslav

CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Experienced in big media transformation, strong US profile, though might be a long shot for UK-focused ITV.

Anne Mensah

VP of UK Content at Netflix, former Sky and BBC drama commissioner.

Deep creative and streaming credentials, could strengthen ITVX strategy, less proven at corporate CEO level.

Richard Halton

Founding CEO of YouView, strong digital and technology background.

Brings expertise in platform and distribution, fits ITV’s streaming/digital ambitions.

Andy Bird

Former Disney executive, ex-CEO of Pearson.

Global media leader with corporate experience, combines content and business strategy.

Philippa Snow

Senior ITV Studios executive (example of rising talent internally).

Represents next-generation leadership, strong production side experience, though less proven at board/market level.

Tomorrow: Happy Birthday Carolyn McCall!

Born: 13 September 1961

Age: 64

ITV CEO Tenure: 7 years 8 months (since Jan 2018)

Average FTSE CEO Age: 55

Average FTSE CEO Tenure: 5 years 6 months

Inevitable retirement will trigger a change of ITV leadership in the near future.

Research shows new CEOs increase short term volatility and can cause a rerating if the new CEO has a strong track record and investors welcome the change, along with the potential for new strategies and value enhancement.

Plenty of press reaction today, this Guardian article is a good overview.

The deal is also great for bringing analysts and markets attention back to opportunities in the Media sector - just as the quiet summer period ends.

With ITVs next dividend and trading update due soon, and better numbers previously signalled by ITV as weighted to the 2nd half of the year - this is a good time to be holding ITV for the stronger winter trading period!

And technically speaking after basing around 80p for so long ITV is now primed for the next leg up.

Https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/sep/11/paramount-skydance-warner-bros-discovery

Reminder - Paramount is active in the UK media market as the owner of Ch5

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/11/warner-bros-discovery-paramount-skydance-bid.html

Paramount bids for Warner Bros

https://www.wsj.com/business/media/paramount-skydance-prepares-ellison-backed-bid-for-warner-bros-discovery-0b921c20?st=2aEm84&reflink=article_copyURL_share

Good article and all true.

Broadcast has zero value in the City but is basically a cash cow. We get ridiculously high dividends thanks to this.

Shorters think we are just takeover speculators. Not at all

I could happily live off the dividends for the rest of my life without any hint of a takeover, it just adds spice.

One day, one inevitable day, this will be re-rated sharply upwards and then we’ll see some tears…

No need to resign. She will retire soon.

Wolf “Most of us know this is more likely to see 75p before 85p”

Why do you think that?

As I write it’s 81.5p

So 85p is just 4.2% away

But 75p is 8% away

Even just statistically 85p is more likely?

Ironically Murdoch features in an upcoming ITV the Hack

https://deadline.com/2025/08/rupert-murdoch-cast-steve-pemberton-itv-drama-the-hack-1236498873/?unapproved=4530468&moderation-hash=b7c636c299cd43053caa24dd6a9c4792#comment-list-wrapper

https://www.itv.com/watch/the-hack/10a3293/upcoming

Murdochs ‘expansion plan’ starts immediately. Media data firm (in London) is first acquisition.

Https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/09/10/murdoch-backed-marketing-group-swoops-on-data-firm/

Https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/total-kombat-2-will-broadcast-live-saturday-13-september-itvx

Https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/itvx-achieves-its-biggest-ever-august

But if it hits 100p will you delete yours (all of them)?

If it ever hits 60p again I’ll delete my account!