TV3 buy Channel 6

[pete]

Independent

CHANNEL 6 could soon feature sports, news and Irish drama after TV3 yesterday announced it had bought the fledgling entertainment station.

The €10m deal is expected to be cleared by the broadcasting regulator in the coming months, clearing the way for changes to Channel 6's largely American line-up.

While I know they just show foreign shows & a lot of them repeats from other channels I think they are quiet good. Not good seeing TV3 get their paws on them.

[anto1208]

A balls so there goes a great little station with Sienfield Fraiser Trailer park boys family guy american dad & the US office to be replaced with Fat chick eats 10 cakes a day and cant figure out why she is fat. And make over my house / wife cast offs from ITV

[John83]

What's the story regarding setting up a station here?

Could TV3 have set up a second channel of their own relatively easily? If so, they have to be buying Channel 6 with the intention of operating it along similar lines to its current programming.

If it's hard to set a new one up, they could be thinking of turning it into ITV2 Ireland.

I don't think it's any great loss (except, who will show House here now?), but I kind of think TV3 will make something worse out of it.

[pete]

What's the story regarding setting up a station here?

You can't setup terrestial station as no licence available. AFAIK it is relatively easy to start a cable channel although you may still need an Irish licence.

I won't lose any sleep over it but hopefully TV3 are not looking for an Irish location for ITV digital shows.

[superfrank]

Channel 6 is alright. It's like an Irish E4, with slightly better shows.

I assume TV3 will turn it into, as John83 said, ITV2 Ireland.

[Dodge]

TV3's sole interest in Channel 6 is its cable license. I'd assume that certain contracts hvae to be honoured in terms of US purchases. Wouldn't hold out too much hope of anythign groundbreaking being shown

[pete]

I liked the statement from TV3 saying they would continue to push Irish content. Besides news & sports bulletins do TV3 have Irish content? At least Channel 6 don't spoof their Irish content.

E10 is probably good value for slot on NTL & Sky digital services.

Edit: I forgot about Expose

[Macy]

There's also Digital Terrestrial to consider. I thought TV3 had two channels down for that? Channel six not listed on the boxer (successful bidder) channel list - well not amongst all the free on satellite stuff they expect people to pay a tenner a month for anyway...

If five follows Channel 4, by being Free To Air on Satellite, House will be available there.