Staff shares in broadcaster ITV soared today amid market speculation over a potential bid from RTL, the German owner of rival channel Five.
The stock rose than 5 per cent, fuelled by market rumours that satellite broadcaster Bskyb was in talks with RTL over exchanging its 17.9 per cent stake in the channel for Five - clearing the way for an RTL bid for ITV.
Ownership of Five would give Rupert Murdoch control of his first terrestrial channel in the United Kingdom if the deal went ahead.
The rumoured talks come a day after Bskyb's £940 million (€1,386 million) acquisition of the ITV stake last November was referred to the Competition Commission by Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling.
Bskyb has consistently said its stake in ITV is for investment purposes.
PA