Reports suggest that US comms giant Comcast’s NBCUniversal is considering an £11 billion (€15.1bn) bid for UK commercial broadcaster ITV, with talks having been held between company executives

Any such bid would pitch Comcast against John Malone’s Liberty Global, which took a 6.4 per cent stake in ITV in July 2014 subsequently raising its holding to 9.9 per cent in a move seen as a way for Liberty to enhance its influence should an alternative bidder materialise.

At the time, Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries said that given ITV’s operating and stock price performance, the investment remained an opportunistic one for the cable MSO in its largest market. “ITV is a well-run company with attractive growth potential, and we are pleased to increase our position as their largest shareholder,” he added.

In accordance with the UK Takeover Code, Liberty Global confirmed that it did not intend to make an offer to acquire ITV.

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