THOMAS the Tank Engine is at the centre of a £1bn tug of love between entertainment firms including Disney and the tycoon behind the Power Rangers.
HIT Entertainment - which owns the rights to Thomas, as well as Bob the Builder and Pingu - has been put up for sale by private equity owner Apax, with a price tag of up to £1bn.
Sources said early interest has come from Disney, toymakers Mattel and Hasbro, TV giants Viacom and Chorion, and Haim Saban - who bought Power Rangers from Disney last year. - Daily Mail