[Rdd]

If O2 still had their network here they might have gone into a JV in both countries , but they sold to Three a few years back (reducing the number of physical mobile networks to three from four). The problem for Liberty is VMTV, why would a telco buy into a traditional free to air broadcast business in this day and age, it simply doesn’t make sense strategic wise. After all the analysts are telling anyone who will listen that “convergence is dead” and it’s not particularly necessary for the network plays to also own a content play, and particularly one that’s routed in the conventional free to air game rather than pay TV. Hence you see BT getting out of content and VM U.K. got rid of their content side (which they weren’t in for long anyway) years ago.

Liberty will probably figure their way out of this situation eventually, but for now it appears they’re basically stuck with VM Ireland.