Channel 4, Time Warner and Sky may bid for Virgin channels

Channel 4, Time Warner and BSkyB are the only firms left in the running to acquire Virgin Media’s three vmTv channels, Virgin 1, Bravo and Living. Virgin is thought to be confident of receiving a good price for the channels. However, City analysts are pegging the likely figure at around GBP80m (USD122m).

Virgin is selling the channels separately from its stake in its UKTV joint venture with BBC Worldwide. Combined, the sales could net the company GBP400m (USD611m), half the figure suggested in 2006. BBC Worldwide has first refusal on Virgin’s stake in UKTV.

The Times reports that Channel 4 is interested in bundling vmTv into a larger joint venture with BBC Worldwide. This could include UKTV if BBC Worldwide decides to exercise its right to purchase Virgin’s stake in UKTV.