Italian broadcaster Mediaset SpA, owned by Prime Minister Silvio Belusconi’s family, is eying up broadcaster ITV (LSE: ITV), according to CEO Giuliano Adreani, reports Reuters. Adreani said, “We are looking at it with a lot of interest, but also with a lot of attention, given the moment we’re going through.”

Adreani also said, however, that he was “quite optimistic” about the broadcaster’s full-year growth, with ad-sales up in the first nine months of the year. Domestic ad sales in the first-half at Mediaset increased 2.2 percent to €1.56 billion (£1.21 billion), with domestic sales making up 75 percent of the company’s consolidated net revenues. Adreani added, “The moment is very difficult, but we are closing the first nine months and we are among the very few that are positive.”