From both ITV’s and Sky’s own reporting on the proposed merger, it appears that Comcast may be required by Ofcom to sell off Sky News in order to proceed. In doing so, Comcast would instead commit to maintaining ITV/ITN’s existing news output. ITV News has indicated that Comcast still has around three years remaining on its obligation to operate Sky News—a commitment that likely stems from the conditions imposed during its bidding war with Disney for the former Fox assets.
Given this situation, do you think ITV plc might now seek to acquire STV to gain full control of Channel 3 across the UK? Such a move could provide Comcast with a truly national broadcasting footprint if the merger talks ultimately succeed.
As excitement builds ahead of the big day, here's a rundown of the TV schedules on 25th December for BBC One, ITV and Channel 4 - with treats including Amandaland and Bullseye#ChristmasDayTVpic.twitter.com/WvZt5WCDQJ
6.00am My Life at Christmas with Anita Rani (Rpt)
7.00am Royal Institution Christmas Lectures (Rpt)
8.00am A Christmas Choir with Michelle McManus
8.45am Carols from King’s (Rpt)
10.00am Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death (Rpt)
10.30am Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out (Rpt)
10.55am Talking Pictures (Rpt)
11.25am The Nutcracker from the Royal Ballet
1.05pm Film: White Christmas (1954)
3.00pm The King
3.10pm Film: Evil Under the Sun (1982)
5.00pm Dad’s Army at the BBC (Rpt)
6.00pm Dad’s Army (Rpt)
6.40pm Keeping Up Appearances Christmas Special 1994 (Rpt)
7.30pm The Morecambe & Wise Show: The Lost Tapes (Rpt)
8.10pm The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show 1975 (Rpt)
9.15pm Film: Jaws (1975)
11.15pm Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story
12.40am Film: And Now for Something Completely Different (1972)
Loads lamenting BBC One schedule online. Still haven’t heard from Channel 5.
Channel 4 dusts off the same box of baubles from their current package, as do BBC Two and ITV.
The latter do have a new range of bumpers and promo endboards across their channels, though - very 2017 C4 with items rolling along the screen edges:
BBC One returns to Gruffalo and co. following a new TV adaptation of The Scarecrow’s Wedding, the third time since 2020 and 2023. Old characters return (I assume they subtly remastered some previous concepts?) plus the scarecrows.
The lime 5’s first Christmas ident looks… less intricate, though reminds me of UK Gold’s firework ident in 1999.
S4C continues the adventures of the little girl and the red dragon from last year.
