Media Guardian wrote:The BBC is facing a three-way battle to keep Neighbours, with ITV and Channel Five considering bidding for the Australian daytime soap.
It is understood the BBC has a period of exclusivity in negotiations for a new contract for the long-running show, but has said it would only commit "if the price was right".
ITV and Channel Five would be keen to get their hands on the soap, with sources confirming they had both run the rule over it.
The soap's current contract with the BBC ends later next year and discussions about a new deal have already begun.
Neighbours would plug a hole in ITV1's afternoon schedule, which has struggled since the loss of Home and Away to Five and the defection of Paul O'Grady to Channel 4.
Neighbours could also be used on ITV2, which is also currently looking for a "teen-oriented soap".
The ITV chief operating officer, John Cresswell, was quoted as saying last week that a teen soap would bring a "habit-forming, young audience" to peak on ITV2.
ITV could follow the lead of Five, which plays Home and Away on its main network at 6pm, then gives viewers a first look at the next episode immediately afterwards on digital channel Five Life.
An ITV spokeswoman said the channel was looking to commission a home-grown series.
Five is also interested in bidding for Neighbours, which it would air alongside Home and Away in a soap hour from 6pm.
The channel has long been interested in acquiring the soap, made by Australian production company Grundy - which is owned by Five's parent company RTL.
The BBC has said it is "committed" to Neighbours, but has denied reports it is preparing to shell out £13m a year to keep it - over three times what it currently pays.
The BBC director of acquisitions, George McGhee, told MediaGuardian.co.uk the corporation wanted to keep the show "but only if the price was right".
He said: "This figure [of £13m a year] is a lot of nonsense. That amount of money would be absolutely ridiculous.
"The BBC is committed to Neighbours but only at the right price."
Negotiations over Neighbours are continuing, although one source said a deal was "still quite some time off", with the BBC holding the rights until well into next year.
Despite its ratings falling from the days of Scott and Charlene's romance and wedding in the late 80s, Neighbours is still a ratings banker for BBC1, pulling in around 3 million viewers for its 1.35pm lunchtime repeat and around 2.6 million for its 5.35pm episode.
I know this sort of story comes up every year or so, but this time it's from a reputable source, rather than the Sun or something, so it's worth keeping in mind...
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chrismoyles.net
