Speaking at a Royal Television Society dinner last night, Airey said the two broadcasters had a great deal in common, namely: both have a public service ethos and a regular crossover of staff.
Such a merger has been heavily criticised in some quarters. In January, Duncan dismissed a potential merger with commercial rival Five as a solution to its funding deficit. Although he did not name Five directly, Duncan described the prospect of a merger with a for-profit, privately owned broadcaster as like "mixing oil and water", which didn't work.
But, last night, Airey rebutted Duncan's comments, noting: "That's hardly mixing oil and water. The differences we have are also complementary strengths, which is something the Government has begun to recognise. Because there are so many similarities in what we do, that leads one to suggest that synergies can deliver significant value".
Airey also argued for the merger on the basis of cost savings, adding: "In fact, we think the amount of money saved could allow the creation of more, not less, public service content, especially among desperately under-served audiences."
She also said that she doesn't believe that a Channel 4 partnership with BBC Worldwide will offer enough value to save the commercial broadcaster.
However, she was at pains to underline that Five's parent, RTL Group, would continue to back the broadcaster, regardless of the outcome of merger talks between Channel 4, BBC Worldwide and potentially Five.
"Whatever happens don't underestimate RTL's deep pockets, nor its commitment to remaining a long-term player in one of the largest television markets in Europe, with Five at the heart of it.
"RTL is not the rapacious corporate raider it has sometimes been painted as, funnelling money back to its secret underground lair in Luxembourg that should have gone to the poor, starving independent production community in Soho.
"Actually, since it first entered the UK in 1997, it has spent just shy of £1 billion on Five. It is committed to the UK market and, as the head of Bertelsmann said the other day, there is ‘no time limit' to that commitment."
.jpg)
.jpg)