[F4C]

Considering UTV Ireland didn't work out I doubt ITV would be interested in running a channels business in Ireland - they are very much first and foremost a content business now and it's less risky to licence the content to be shown than start up operations in the Republic of Ireland.

I think some of the US networks are finding out the hard way that setting up your own operations in other countries to screen your original content isn't as profitable as selling that content to local broadcasters - that is a large part of the reason CBS and WB have backed away from the CW in the US.

Globally it not working out for the US broadcasters makes sense. Doesn't Original local content peform better in most markets supplemented with US content?

It really depends if things could be rationalised 

If it were to happen but it would effetely add a new ITV region, it would add a slight increase to advertising revenue less revenue generated by affiliation. 

Saroview would be problematic with HD, from what I can tell, VMTV channels are in 3/4 SD resolution at 544x576. ITV has been very much pro HD in the last couple of years, would they want the costs associated With SD broadcasting in a small market. 

Continuity from London? lack of Irish accents might be problematic.

ITVX would need to be reengineered to remove geoblocking and allow for displaying of prices in euros. sounds easy but actually requires a lot of technical changes and additional platforms to support.

I imagine the Irish Government would want a fair-sized list of cast-iron guarantees of commitments to investment in Irish content, Irish continuity and probably studios in Ireland for it to go ahead.  

I would have thought ITV would target buying the two STV franchises, and gain total control of Channel 3 in the UK, before looking at Ireland to be honest.