22-04-2023, 01:30 AM
(21-04-2023, 11:25 PM).Milkshake Wrote: Main reason Carlton never got hold of Thames in the mid 80s was IBA made it clear no one could own a maj of share in any ITV company, even thought its main 2 owners at the time wanted out. Even when Thames floated on the stock market not many were sold.The rule was that no ITV franchise could own a majority in another, which is why Trident (Yorkshire and Tyne Tees) was forced by the IBA to de-merge in 1980. The rules were later changed which eventually allowed the formation of ITV plc.
During the 1980s/1990s most ITV franchises had a majority shareholder. There was nothing to prevent that, as it's the usual structure of a company. At the time Thames had two shareholders: EMI was the majority with 51%.
I think the issue the IBA had with a Carlton purchase of Thames was that they already had considerable advertising and media interests elsewhere.