Shares in TV production company Endemol rose as much as 12 per cent today following a newspaper report that Rupert Murdoch is interested in buying Telefonica's Endemol stake.
Speculation as to who will buy Telefonica's stake in Endemol - behind such worldwide TV hits as Big Brotherand Fear Factor- has been rampant in recent months.
Endemol shares were up 5.6 per cent at €21.46 after hitting a fresh year high at €22.74 earlier. The shares have more than doubled in price since Endemol's November 2005 listing on the Amsterdam stock exchange.
Spanish newspaper La Gacetasaid Mr Murdoch, who controls News Corp, was interested in buying Telefonica's 75 per cent stake in Endemol. It said Murdoch would buy the stake alone, giving no further details and citing no sources.