The BBC eyes up UKTV

The network that that started off with TV Gold has become a surprise package, with eight channels including the original TV Gold has caught the eye of the BBC, in fact it is believed that they have approached Virgin Media with a view of buying their share of the business for an estimated figure of around £370 million.

This is a major expansion for the BBC, and some people may not feel that a network like UKTV may not belong with a corporation like the BBC, and indeed it could spell trouble with licence payers too.

But the BBC need to secure themselves for the future by establishing a quality network of channels or otherwise risk being a second class operation. This would be hard for them to get out of, as the BBC tread a fine line between public institution and commercial operation, it’s not perfect but at the moment works.

In short this would give the BBC the opportunity to offer an excellent spread of programming including some show from the US, which would only normally be available on cable or satellite.

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