Bob the Builder saves Barbie from Barney the Dinosaur?

It could happen, if Lions Gate Entertainment decides to extend a bid of $1 billion (£530 m) it is reported to be thinking of offering to Hit Entertainment, which controls both Bob and Barney as part of their children‘s entertainment holdings.

Included in Lions Gate’s current roster is Barbie; if it acquires Hit, it would control approximately 14 percent of the U.S. family entertainment market.

Hit is considering two other offers in addition to Lions Gates’ bid. One bidder, thought to be from a non-U.S. consortium of investors, has not been identified by Hit at this time.

These two bids are seen as attempts to forestall a bid from Apax, a private equity firm, that Hit had seemed ready to accept. Lions Gate met with Apax in March to discuss acquiring Hit, but there was no agreement on a joint offer.