NTL's TV ambitions spark hilarity

British newspapers have been having plenty of fun at NTL's expense (yes, again), after the cable operator dislosed it was considering a tie-up with ITV.

Jeremy Warner of The Indie captured the situation best, pointing out that the two companies had plenty in common - "both are in a management, structural and strategic mess".

Over at The Guardian, Julia Finch cut straight to the point. "What on earth is NTL thinking of? The ink is barely dry on the cable company's merger with rival Telewest in March and its takeover of Virgin Mobile in the summer and yet here it is cosying up to ITV. The only possible conclusion is that NTL hopes to obfuscate its appalling record in customer service and its inability to take on Sky by focusing minds on yet another deal."

Interestingly, Stephen Carter is tipped to be the new ITV chief executive. He recently left the chief exec's chair at Ofcom, having previously run NTL. But surely that puts him in a great position to see the flaws in lumbering NTL with even more debt, and a whole load more challenges.....