![]() ![]() The move comes after Manchester United confirmed they had accepted a £623m takeover bid from another broadcaster, BSkyB.Īny link-up would help Carlton shore up its chances of securing lucrative broadcasting rights as pay-TV heads toward digital services.Ī statement from the Arsenal said: "The board of Arsenal FC confirm that it has held preliminary discussions with Carlton Communications plc concerning a range of ways in which the two companies might work together."Īrsenal could be valued as high as £275m if Carlton decide to launch a takeover. The club's worth has already shot up by more than £60m to £224m since the BSkyB deal with Manchester United was unveiled.Ĭarlton's founder Michael Green has been a major force in British television since he won the London ITV licence six years ago.Īnd Carlton is joint owner of ON digital, the new pay TV service due to launch before Christmas. So if Carlton owned Arsenal, it could tempt subscribers with exclusive coverage of Arsenal games. Most Arsenal shares are owned by directors of the club, with only a minority of shares available on the open market. The Gunners' largest individual shareholder is one of the directors, Danny Fiszman, a multi-millionaire.īut the highest-profile member of the board is vice-chairman David Dein, formerly the largest shareholder, who still holds the third biggest stake. It has been reported that any deal would see Carlton buying most of the stakes held by Dein and by chairman Peter Hill-Wood, but Fiszman would keep most of his.ĭein would remain the man running the club.Īrsenal are known to be desperate to find a solution to the problem of the limited capacity at their Highbury stadium in north London. Its size and facilities now lag behind Old Trafford, home of rivals Manchester United. This season Arsenal are playing their European Champions' League games at Wembley.įormer Arsenal manager Terry Neill says a deal would benefit the clubĪ cash injection from Carlton - which runs the weekday commercial television service in London and has widespread media interests - could change this. The former Arsenal manager Terry Neill, said he was not surprised by the move and any deal with Carlton could provide the club with more money to buy top players.
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