Endemol pulled out of the pitch in September because its original idea would have proved too expensive to produce.
The decision has angered the other entrants in the race -- Princess Productions and Sky; incumbent Planet 24; Talkback Productions; and RDF Media -- despite the fact that Endemol is to pay for its pilot episode because Channel 4 is providing funding for four pilots only.
However, Endemol's competitors for the contract, believed to be the channel's most lucrative, are understood to have invested extra money towards their pilots, based on the assumption that they had a 25% chance of success.
The other bidders are said to believe they have been treated unfairly because the odds against them have increased.
The Big Breakfast was axed in June after a variety of new presenter line-ups failed to reach the heady heights of viewing figures achieved by Denise Van Outen and Johnny Vaughan, and Gaby Roslin and Chris Evans, who drew an audience of more than 1m.
The show's ratings have now fallen to 300,000 and it will be replaced in the spring.
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