‘Scuse me? Could you lend me 20p? No it’s not for a brew/heroin bag… it’s to buy Men and Motors – Granada’s teenage-boy wet dream-to-screen show. What am I talking about? Good question. Well, ITV could be planning to sell off the channel off following months of discussion about its future.

There has been talk of a merger with ITV4, but it has been reported that ITV want to get rid and sell to just about anyone who’ll have it… with the deal to be finalised in early 2007.

ITV is unhappy with the ratings for ITV4 and the move would mean it could focus attention on building the branded channel’s audience.

The man responsible for the channels launch, Steve Arnell, has recently been shunted off to
develop the launch of a new film channel, ITV Movies, with former Men
and Motors chief, Dave Fewings, currently  the top cat at ITV4.
Men and Motors was originally a joint venture between Granada and Sky
in 1996 (hmmm…) although ITV took over the whole thing in 200. Sky would benefit from any
sale of the channel, because of clauses in the deal. Along with Sky,
Flextech and Five are being suggested as purchasers.
The channel is only available on satellite and cable platforms, having
left Freeview in April to be replaced by ITV Play.[Mof Gimmers]