Discovery-WarnerMedia merger - C21 Media: Zaslav talks up Discovery-WarnerMedia merger, vows ‘shock-and-awe’ strategy

Story from C21 Media: 

Discovery president and CEO David Zaslav says the blockbuster merger of Discovery and WarnerMedia will create the most “compelling menu of IP” for global consumers, as the merged entity prepares to take on the likes of Disney and Netflix.

BT Sport Takeover: DAZN in advanced talks to buy BT Sport, FT says

Story from FT: 

DAZN, the sports streaming service owned by billionaire Sir Leonard Blavatnik, is in advanced talks to buy BT’s sports business.

Ofcom wants Virgin Media UK to move GOLD HD to make room for BBC Three

Ofcom wants BBC Three to get the following channels on Virgin Media:

BT Sport Takeover: DAZN set sights on buying BT Sport and its Premier League rights

Story from The Times

The streaming platform DAZN is stepping up efforts to buy BT Sport, therefore taking over the pay-TV channel’s rights to show Premier League and Gallagher Premiership rugby matches, according to broadcasting industry sources.

BT Sport Takeover: DAZN chief confirms interest in BT Sport

Story from Media Mole: 

DAZN chairman Kevin Mayer has confirmed that the company is interested in a potential acquisition of BT Sport.

Guardian Media: BBC braced for more budget cuts as new licence fee deal nears

Story from Guardian Media: 

The BBC is braced for further budget cuts, with the government’s latest five-year licence fee deal all but agreed amid speculation it could be announced as early as next week.

BBC News: Piers Morgan to launch new show on Rupert Murdoch-owned network

Story from BBC News:

Piers Morgan is to join the Rupert Murdoch-owned News Corp and Fox News Media, the company has announced.

Guardian Media: BBC Three set to return as TV channel after Ofcom gives green light

Story from Guardian Media: 

BBC Three is set for a triumphant return as a TV channel after media regulator Ofcom gave it the provisional greenlight to return to broadcast television, six years after the corporation took it off air because its young viewers had abandoned traditional viewing.

Channel 4 Takeover - CityAM: Dowden defends Channel 4 privatisation push as ‘needed’ to fend off streaming giants

Story from CityAM: 

UK culture secretary Oliver Dowden has restated his view that changing Channel 4’s ownership is the best path for the channel, in the latest sign that the government intends to push forward with plans to privatise the state-owned broadcaster.

Channel 4 Takeover - CityAM: JP Morgan takes charge of Channel 4’s road to privatisation

Story from CityAM: 

The government has appointed banking giant JP Morgan to provide advice on Channel 4’s future following a consultation into the possible privatisation of the public broadcaster.

List of September 1st changes on Virgin Media UK

Here is the September 1st changes on TiVo and V6 Boxes: