A joint bid between Discovery Communications and BSkyB is emerging as a front-runner to buy Channel 5.
The international factual broadcaster and the UK pay-TV operator have teamed up to bid for the Northern & Shell-owned company.
Sources picked out the bid as the favourite, but also flagged that the pair will face tough competition from rival bidders, which are thought to include a partnership between NBC Universal and BT.
The sale process is heating up and a deal is expected imminently after the number of companies left in the running was whittled down from an initial 20.
DRG parent firm Modern Times Group, MTV-owner Viacom, UKTV-backer Scripps Network and Saban Capital are among the other companies that have lodged bids.
The deal will be the most significant shake up in the UK free-to-air television business in many years and could see Channel 5’s programming budget beefed up, with some industry analysts suggesting it could go from around £80m to closer to £200m.
If Discovery and BSkyB are successful it could mean that the US factual broadcaster has a free-to-air window for its slew of programming – from reality series such as Deadliest Catch and Gold Rush and dramas including Klondike.
For more information go to Channel 5 Sale Timeline