[cable]

VM3 used to be UTV Ireland, the failure of which led to it being sold to TV3 and UTV itself being taken over by ITV plc. So if ITV was to buy VMTV, they'd be buying back a channel that they previously disposed of!

Yes but they would be acquiring the whole of exTV3 and UTV Ireland bundled together. VMTV now have 4 main channels, ITV have 4 main channels along similar alignments. if they could clear enough rights... Whether or not Ireland being in the EU is worth it for ITV politically and the likelihood of ad revenue vs the affiliation agreement.