LONDON: The media company UTV has confirmed it is in talks that could lead to the sale of its television business.
UTV has operated a television station in Northern Ireland since 1959 and has other television and radio operations in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
UTV broadcasts many of Northern Ireland’s most watched programmes.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt, a former news presenter at UTV, said the company’s move had “the whiff of surrender”.
The company expanded into television in the Republic of Ireland in January this year but it has struggled to find an audience.
UTV Ireland is expected to lose almost £12m this year.