UTV Acquires Tibus For £5 Million

UTV plc has acquired Tibus, an all-Ireland focused web design agency with offices in Dublin and Belfast for £5 million.
Tibus, which employs 30 people, was founded in 1996 and specialises in providing online services for clients across a broad range of business sectors and central and local government.
UTV New Media currently provides web development, design, hosting and interactivity to a largely retail customer base and broadband and telephony services to the residential market.
The acquisition will allow the broadcaster to extend its services to commercial and institutional customers.
Tibus Managing Director, Gareth Dunlop, said: “This acquisition allows us to further serve our current customers, as well as using our suite of skills within the UTV fold to take the UTV web strategy to the next level.”
Group Chief Executive, UTV Media plc, John McCann said: “Tibus is an very successful business with web services expertise that will considerably strengthen our New Media division and enable us to drive our multi-media strategy forward.
“UTV broadcasts the most watched programming in Northern Ireland and our expertise in producing entertaining and informative content combined with Tibus’ web expertise will ensure we communicate with our viewers and listeners via online channels, enabling them to contribute, engage and interact with us in a way most suitable and convenient for them, be that TV, radio, web, or mobile.”
Managing director of UTV New Media, Biggerstaff added: “The combined expertise of UTV and Tibus will make UTV New Media a formidable competitor in the web market across Ireland and the UK.
“UTV New Media has built up a very strong presence in the residential and retail markets throughout Ireland and the integrations of Tibus will give us a strong foothold in the business-to-business market.”
(DS)