ITV 'in advanced talks' with Netflix over video streaming

ITV is understood to be in advanced discussions with Netflix about an output deal, as the US video streaming service's imminent UK and Ireland launch fuels bidding wars for the digital rights to films and TV shows.

Netflix is thought to be close to agreeing a deal that would allow it to exploit ITV's archive of shows. The US company is also understood to be in talks with Warner Bros in a bid to snatch subscription video-on-demand rights to the Hollywood studio's output from BSkyB, as it looks to beef up its UK film and TV offering.

The US company is said to have held talks with Channel 4 about an output agreement, although negotiations are not thought to be at such an advanced stage as with ITV. Netflix is also believed to be lining up deals with Lionsgate, which has rights to films including Kick Ass, Saw and Rambo, and Momentum Pictures, which has rights to films such as The King's Speech, the trilogy of releases based on Stieg Larsson's Millennium novels and Lost in Translation.