* Branson plots 4.5 bln stg cable deal to create media giant; Virgin Mobile will merge with NTL in challenge to Sky and offer 9 mln customers extra services - Sunday Telegraph

* Billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson poised to revolutionise the British media market by merging his Virgin Mobile business with NTL, the cable company - The Business

Fun and Games For VMOB and Murdoch shares tomorrow I bet.

Reckon Sky will try a spoiler bid at 350p to either grab it or make NTL pay more than they want.

MightyM,
As a regular user of the west coast rail services pre branson and during the branson era I think you'll find he actually created more problems than he inherited.
Virgin really did not have a clue how to run a rail service and given that NTL is a complete pile of poo, i used to work for them, the bransom ntl merger sounds like a nightmare.

DITCHPIG: Exactly my point.

merging of NTL and Virgin Mobile for what benefit exactly? How will this challenge sky tv?

Sorry I cannot see any logic behind this at all

[edit]

Richard Branson, the billionaire entrepreneur who owns a 72 pct stake in Virgin Mobile, will have a 14 pct holding in the new company, making him the largest shareholder.

The new group will be re-branded Virgin, and will be the first to offer combined 'quadruple play' internet, TV and fixed and mobile packages in the UK

Quadruple play - WOW how exciting!

off-topic - Virgin Active recently acquired some health clubs from Esporta including the one I am a member of.

They are now trying to refurbish the place whilst it is open by sealing off various areas with tape. Last night as many people were in the gym to exercise workman were pulling up the old carpet creating clouds of dust. I am not pleased that Virgin have taken over the health club I have been a member of for many years.

In my opinion the Virgin brand is getting too large. The airline is very good but some of the other businesses are just plain sh.t

snappy: getting the red carpet treatment, are you ;-)

actually Derek the club is, but existing members are not!

They want to start closing it an hour earlier as well.

Bollocks to Branson I say!

snappy, same thing happening to the esporta gym i go to, (sometimes). they are also changing the membership structure which is attracting gangs of dickhead chavs and chavettes and it's spoiling my jacuzzi workout!!

same thing has happened at mine bosley, they have reduced the age to 16 from 18 and the pool area has been overrun by young hooligans.

Bollocks to Branson I say!