Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA has approached potential bidders including Vivendi SA (ENXTPA:VIV) and Altice Europe N.V. (ENXTAM:ATC) about selling its controlling stake in Métropole Télévision S.A. (ENXTPA:MMT), sources close to the matter told Reuters. Bertelsmann is hoping for a deal potentially worth about €3 billion ($3.6 billion) for Metropole Television SA, two sources said on condition of anonymity.

M6 rival Télévision Française 1 Société anonyme (ENXTPA:TFI) and Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky have also been approached, the sources said, adding that Bertelsmann had yet to hire banks for any formal sales process and talks remained at a preliminary stage. Bertelsmann, M6, Vivendi, TF1 and telecoms company Altice declined to comment. Representatives for Kretinsky were not immediately available to comment.

An RTL Group spokesman also declined to comment, but noted Bertelsmann Chief Executive Officer Thomas Rabe has repeatedly called for industry consolidation in Europe and the creation of national champions in the media sector.