ITV moves closer to buying Neighbours

Friday 20th April 2007

ITV is believed to be in advanced negotiations with Neighbours production company Fremantle to pinch the Australian soap from the BBC.

ITV has offered Fremantle around £80,000 per episode or £20m a year for the exclusive rights to broadcast the soap in the UK.

This huge offer is nearly four times what the BBC is currently paying Fremantle for screening rights.

Director of acquisitions at the BBC, George McGhee, hopes that the prestige of the BBC will be worth more to Neighbours' bosses than ITV's hard cash. He says:

"Fremantle will ultimately do what it wants to do. "I'm sure ITV would like to have it but would that be best for Neighbours?"