Now then, I don’t like it when blogs just re-hash speculation but this one is just too big not to comment on. I’ve just heard on the grapevine that BT *might* be considering making a bid for ITV. Buying such an established UK content provider would certainly realign BT against competition from Homechoice, BSkyB and ntl in this emerging market.
With last week’s news that Sky will be using Microsoft’s Windows Media Center to deliver its forthcoming Sky By Broadband service and Google announcing a new video store, some interesting areas in technology and media are finally starting to come together. It looks like the big players are jostling for starting positions in the race to realise the much heralded interplay of TV content, broadband and search technologies in the UK.
So – who’s next?
UK version of AOL/Time Warner merger?
Well, a little birdie told me that recycling giant SITA is eyeing up AOL with a view to turning the entire megabusiness into fertiliser for Silicon Valley. On account of their unhealthy addiction to pop-ups and lame attempts to pose as a portal for pop culture.
I fear all this integration myself. Can’t be trusted to browse the Net while making tea or toast. Too much room for dangerous error.