U.K. cable company Virgin Media, a subsidiary of John Malone’s Liberty Global, has signed a deal with British TV group ITV to buy free-to-air commercial broadcaster UTV Ireland, which airs in the Republic of Ireland, for €10 million ($11.1 million). The deal does not include broadcaster UTV, which airs in Northern Ireland.
UTV Ireland was launched in January 2015. Its acquisition follows Virgin’s purchase of rival Irish free-to-air broadcaster TV3 last year.
The ITV agreement includes a 10-year output deal for the Irish rights to ITV-produced programming, such as soap operas “Emmerdale” and “Coronation Street.”
The acquisition is subject to approval from the Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.
