Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 8, 2006 14:44:59 GMT 1
ITV is plotting an audacious swoop for Big Brother in a bid to arrest its ratings decline.
Simon Shaps, the ITV director of television, is understood to have begun courting Endemol, before formal negotiations for a new Big Brother contract begin later this year.
Channel 4 has owned the rights to the hit reality format since it began in the UK seven years ago, but it does not have a rolling contract with Endemol and negotiations for the next deal are expected to begin from the autumn...
...A source familiar with the situation said Mr Shaps would put up an "almighty fight" to win the format.
"Simon is desperate to buy it," the source said. "He is going to put up an almighty fight for it.
"Big Brother is with Channel 4 at the moment and Endemol is quite happy with them but technically it has no home after next year. When it comes to pure financial muscle, ITV could probably beat Channel 4."
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Personally I think Channel 4 is its home and I would prefer it on there but if ITV decide to get rid of the current 3 presenters and replace them with better, unbiased, impartial ones then I'd probably be swayed!
Simon Shaps, the ITV director of television, is understood to have begun courting Endemol, before formal negotiations for a new Big Brother contract begin later this year.
Channel 4 has owned the rights to the hit reality format since it began in the UK seven years ago, but it does not have a rolling contract with Endemol and negotiations for the next deal are expected to begin from the autumn...
...A source familiar with the situation said Mr Shaps would put up an "almighty fight" to win the format.
"Simon is desperate to buy it," the source said. "He is going to put up an almighty fight for it.
"Big Brother is with Channel 4 at the moment and Endemol is quite happy with them but technically it has no home after next year. When it comes to pure financial muscle, ITV could probably beat Channel 4."
------------------------------------------
Personally I think Channel 4 is its home and I would prefer it on there but if ITV decide to get rid of the current 3 presenters and replace them with better, unbiased, impartial ones then I'd probably be swayed!
