[ad_1]
\n<\/p>\n
\n\tMarco Bassetti<\/a>, CEO of MasterChef<\/em> and Peaky Blinders<\/em> manufacturing empire Banijay<\/a> Entertainment, has addressed hypothesis in regards to the firm\u2019s curiosity in buying ITV. <\/p>\n \n\tThe Financial Times<\/em> reported in April that Banijay has held talks with ITV a couple of takeover. Deadline reported final month<\/a> that the talks had been nonetheless tentative and that the form of any deal was unclear.<\/p>\n \n\tDuring an look at SXSW London<\/a>, Bassetti sowed some confusion by saying \u201cwe\u2019re not buying ITV Studios<\/a>,\u201d however an individual near the CEO later clarified that this meant {that a} deal was not imminent.<\/p>\n \n\tBassetti went on to speak about the advantages of scale within the present local weather. If Banijay was to make an audacious bid for ITV, it could cement its standing as one of many largest leisure corporations on this planet.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cTo put this in context, we are a niche business with many companies, so we always talk to each other about how to create more value. And sometimes rumors get out,\u201d he mentioned, including that we’re at the moment \u201cliving in a world where consolidation is really important.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIt wasn\u2019t like this a few years ago,\u201d he mentioned. \u201cThen, we were a little bit scared about scale. We didn\u2019t want to be seen as too big or powerful. But today, if you don\u2019t have a big distribution branch or have the money to invest in pilots, it is difficult to stay in the market.\u201d<\/p>\n