ITV outbids BBC for Ten’s Neighbours Tim Addington
The BBC’s 21-year hold on Channel Ten soap ‘Neighbours’ is under threat after rival British broadcaster ITV reportedly offered to pay $241,000 an episode for the show.
The BBC has offered $168,750 an episode, but is thought to have been outbid by ITV.
The program, which is distributed by Freemantle Media, has performed consistently well in UK ratings ever since it was first broadcast on the BBC 1986. It currently has an audience of 2.6 million viewers in its 1.40pm spot and 2.8 million when repeated the same day at 5.35pm.
Freemantle is believed to have tripled the cost per episode of neighbours from $60,250 to $180,750, and wants down a deal covering the next five to ten years.
A spokesperson from the BBC told Media Bulletin that no program was “indispensable” and it would not overpay for the Aussie soap.
