NTL mulls renewed Newcastle bid

NTL, THE US cable television operator, is considering rebidding for Newcastle United football club, depending on the outcome of the Department of Trade and Industry's review of merger policy.

Yesterday, a DTI spokesman said the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's ruling against BSkyB's proposed acquisition of Manchester United was not significant to Newcastle United as takeovers would be considered on a case-by-case basis. NTL dropped its pounds 160m bid for Newcastle when the MMC said BSkyB's bid should not proceed.