Virgin is said to be thrashing out a deal with London-based rights company Target Entertainment for Minotaur, whose catalogue includes ITV dramas 'Taggart' and 'Rebus', as well as programming from Virgin-owned channels Living TV, Bravo, Challenge and Trouble.
Minotaur also represents drama, factual, animated and kids programming for a number of international independent producers.
Minotaur was set up by Jane Lighting, the current chief executive of Five, in 1995. Prior to moving to Five she was managing director of Flextech, which became Virgin Television in February. Flextech acquired the distributor in 1999. Minotaur posted £5.7m turnover in 2005.
Target was founded by Alison Rayson in 1998 and represents shows such as Shed Production's drama 'Footballers' Wives' and Chapman Entertainment's kids programme 'Fifi and The Flowertots'.
The potential sale marks the latest round of consolidation in the programme rights market. Earlier this month Digital Rights Group announced plans to acquire ID Distribution and Zeal Entertainment.
Virgin Media Television, meanwhile, is busy preparing for the autumn launch of the free-to-air TV channel, Virgin 1.
Virgin 1 is widely seen as a rival to Sky One, which the rival broadcaster pulled from the Virgin platform earlier this year following a row over carriage costs.
The channel, which will be distributed on Freeview, Virgin Media and digital satellite, plans to air both commissioned and acquired programming with user-generated content and hit shows from Virgin's pay-tv channels..jpg)
.jpg)