ITV eyes bid for Big Brother producer
It is believed ITV’s chief executive, Scots‑born Adam Crozier, sees Endemol as a way of delivering on his promise of increasing the broadcaster’s production earnings to lessen its dependence on a volatile advertising market.
ITV declined to comment but Roddy Davidson, media analyst at Altium Securities, said: “I think it is a case of there being no smoke without fire as regards this.
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Hide Ad“I also think such a move would be welcomed by ITV’s shareholders. The company has for some time expressed a desire to increase revenue from content but has not made a huge amount of progress, and this would fit the bill.
“They need to offset the advertising pressures and broaden their revenue base. From that perspective it makes a lot of sense.”
It is understood Mediaset, which owns about 30 per cent of Endemol, is thinking of forming a joint venture with ITV to make the takeover bid.