RTL’s Zeiler Dismisses ITV Bid

LONDON, November 13:
Gerhard Zeiler, the CEO of the RTL Group has denied rumors that his company is
considering a bid for the U.K. broadcaster ITV.

Speaking
at the European Media Leaders Summit in London today, Zeiler said he was
"not in talks with ITV plc at the moment".

According
to the Media Guardian, Zeiler
referred to RTL's interest in ITV as “speculation”, but added that “a brand
like ITV is still the most successful broadcaster in the U.K. Why should it not
have a future?"

Zeiler
also stressed that mainstream broadcasters still possess strength, adding that
“size matters … big is beautiful in our industry.”

Last Thursday, debt-laden
cable operator NTL said it had made a tentative bid for ITV. That move sparked
speculation that RTL, or even U.S. media giants Time Warner and Viacom, could
enter the fray.