Shine is expected to acquire Kudos, Princess Productions and Firefly Film & Television Productions and create a super indie with an estimated £95m turnover.
Shine, which is part owned by Sony Pictures Television International, is reported to be paying £35m for Kudos, under £20m for Princess and £10m for Firefly.
The acquisitions will bring Kudos's high-end drama output 'Spooks' and 'Hustle', Princess's entertainment programmes including 'Dom Joly's Happy Hour' and 'The Friday Night Project', and Firefly's factual titles such as Channel 4's 'Anatomy for Beginners' under the same umbrella.
The three indies are expected to keep their names and separate production rosters.
According to reports, Shine could also be in the market to buy up more medium-sized indies, taking it into the same league as major TV production companies such as RDF Media and All3Media.
The talks end a long period of speculation about Kudos's future. It is believed that RDF Media, All3Media and private equity company Ingenious have all made approaches to the 'Life on Mars' producer.
Firefly is also believed to have rejected a takeover bid from Tinopolis, the AIM-listed company that bought TV Corp in January 2005.
Shine has previously teamed up with agency MindShare to form a company offering advertising alternatives. In 2001, the two formed a joint venture called Shine M to give MindShare clients the chance to invest in new TV formats.
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