[Headie]

ITV could be planning to ‘swoop in’ and snatch the rights to Big Brother for digital channel ITV2, a new report has claimed.

According to the Telegraph, ‘industry rumours’ suggest that the broadcaster is eyeing the show as a potential replacement for structured reality series The Only Way Is Essex, which will move to new service ITVBe later this year.

The launch of ITVBe – which is to feature lifestyle and reality programming aimed at young women – means ITV2 will start focussing on “unashamed entertainment”. All of ITV’s digital channels are overseen by Angela Jain, who was the commissioning editor for Big Brother in its later years on Channel 4.

When asked by the broadsheet newspaper if ITV is interested in BB, a spokesperson from the company declined to comment.

The news intensifies speculation that Channel 5 will be challenged for the rights to the long-running reality format, with its current deal set to expire later this year after the fourteenth civilian and fifteenth Celebrity series.

Yesterday, a senior executive at C4 also refused to comment on whether it could reclaim the show, but a spokesperson has since insisted to bbspy that it has “no plans” to do so.

The rumours could also indicate that Big Brother has become an attractive proposition in the UK TV industry once more. Except for C5, all major broadcasters – including ITV – ruled out the opportunity to buy BB after C4 axed it in 2009.

ITV was last linked to BB in 2006, while the show was at the height of its popularity. At the time, reports claimed the network was prepared to put up an “almighty fight” to steal it.

Bosses at C5 – which is still in the middle of a sale process – have yet to comment on whether they intend to renew its contract for Big Brother.

Read more: http://www.bbspy.co.uk/bb15/news/040...#ixzz2yfyu8eu4

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