Rival Suitors For England's Top Football Clubs
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WHAT'S THE GAIN?
Japanese Electronics
giant
French satellite
broadcaster
US advertising giant.
Television and hotels group
US media giant
The UK's largest cable operator
Television and newspaper owner
Television, film libraries, video reproduction
Newcastle United
Manchester United, Leeds United
Manchester United
Manchester United, Liverpool, Leeds United
Manchester United,
Tottenham Hotspur
Aston Villa
Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal
"We never comment on speculation or rumour"
Not available
"We are not interested in commenting"
"We can't comment on market rumour"
Not available
"We would not comment on these matters"
"We have been approached by a number of clubs. They are all in far too early a stage for comment."
"We have discussed with Arsenal Football Club Plc ways in which our two companies could work together."
One of the sponsors of the Premier League.
Little else to commend a bid.
Controls rights to show Premier League matches overseas. Already owns Paris St Germain football team in France. Wants to stop Rupert Murdoch expanding into continental Europe.
Interpublic is expanding aggressively in sports promotion and sponsorship. Frank Lowe, a director of the group, is a Manchester United fan. However, it is hard to see what the company could do to improve Manchester United's marketing operation.
Looked at buying Man Utd several years ago and is shareholder - with BSkyB - in the club's cable TV channel. Needs programming to win subscribers for ONdigital, the digital television operator in which it has a 50 per cent stake.
Already uses its extensive sports interests, which include the Atlanta Braves, to push its cable television
subsidiaries. Vice-chairman Ted Turner, who founded TV news channel CNN, is keen to prevent Rupert
Murdoch from expanding his empire.
Could use its cable franchises, which include the Birmingham area, to screen pay-per-view matches. However, CWC is keen to upgrade its network and expand its customer base
before it moves into
supplying its own
programming.
United News, which is run by Lord Hollick, is part of the consortium whose pounds 80m bid for Spurs was rejected by Alan Sugar. It could screen games through SDN, the digital television operator in which United has a stake.
Carlton was beaten by BSkyB during the last bidding war for Premier League rights. Like Granada it needs programming to attract subscribers to ONdigital, its digital broadcasting joint venture.
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