ITV, MediaSet eye joint bid for 'Big Brother' maker

ITV and Silvio Berlusconi's Italian TV company Mediaset are reportedly in negotiations to purchase global production business Endemol, the maker of Big Brother.

The deal thought to be on the table would involve the two partners forming a joint venture company to acquire the struggling production giant, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Mediaset already owns a portion of Endemol, alongside Dutch investment vehicle Cryte and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners.

ITV is thought to have long held an ambition to make a major acquisition of a production company to boost the level of output at its own production unit ITV Studios.

Despite the fact that Endemol is understood to be billions of Euros in debt, the joint purchase deal would allow ITV to vastly increase its international production footprint.

Endemol recently helped score a ratings smash for Richard Desmond's Channel 5 with the relaunch of Big Brother, and the firm has strong existing relationships in the US.

ITV was previously thought to be among the suitors interested in acquiring All3Media, the UK superindie behind Midsomer Murders and Shameless, but the broadcaster was put off by the £750m valuation placed by owner Permira.

Separate reports have indicated that Endemol co-founder John De Mol could be asked to return as chief executive or executive chairman of the firm as part of a new link with his Talpa Media. Endemol is currently searching for a new chief executive to replace Ynon Kreiz, who left the company in June.