ITV makes £20m bid for 'Neighbours'

[Luna]

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?"

[Jessie Wallace]

No No No No No, and No again.
They had Home and away and lost that, and i don't want adverts during Neighbours. And just NOOOOOOOO

[Luna]

I take it your not into this idea then dawn........

[Siobhan]

I agree with Dawn.. they had H&W and lost it and they will mess up neighbours too cause people are not going to want ads in the middle of it..

[Jessie Wallace]

I take it your not into this idea then dawn........

Now i don't know where you got that idea from

[Katy]

i agree, they also tried crossroads and that didn't work either.

[Abbie]

I dont think so, would just be wrong and thne they would have 3 soaps!!( yes lol I can count )

[Chloe O'brien]

I think it would be a bad idea if ITV were to buy the rights. They would not be able to have a direct time slot for it as at the moment at 5pm there is always different shows on. This week is repeats of the Royal, other times is heartbeat or Morse. The show would bound to loose veiwers with the adverts and it would stand no chance it is was competing with The Paul O'Grady Show. They should leave neighbours where it is. It has been in that slot for over 20 years.

[CrazyLea]

So long as it continues to be shown, and they don't lose it, I don't mind where it is lol. I could cope with the adverts.

[Lindy]

Keep it on BBC 1, as the others have said, it makes more sense to stay with BBC1.