Post by Cornwallgirl on Apr 19, 2007 23:05:59 GMT 1
ITV makes £20m bid for 'Neighbours'
ITV is in "advanced negotiations" with Fremantle to poach Neighbours from the BBC, according to Broadcast.
The broadcaster is thought to have offered Fremantle around £80,000 per episode, four times that of the BBC. The deal would value the Aussie soap, which has a UK audience of 7 million, at more than £20 million a year.
The magazine reports that Fremantle was ready to accept ITV's offer earlier this week but could not finalise terms on additional rights, such as VOD and broadband.
George McGhee, director of acquisitions at the BBC, said that he was still in discussions over renewing the existing deal. "Fremantle will ultimately do what it wants to do," he said. "I'm sure ITV would like to have it but would that be best for Neighbours?"
