RTL 'mulls Channel 4 cash sweetener'

Channel Five parent RTL is prepared to offer a cash incentive to sweeten its bid to merge with Channel 4, it was reported today.

It is understood RTL could offer more than £100m (€112.7m) as part of a proposal, although ministers are yet to have detailed talks with the broadcaster.

But RTL could face difficulties securing a large minority stake if its turnover has dropped as expected this year, according to a report in The Times.