Great British Bake Off 'could return in 2017'

OHMYGOSSIP — The makers of ‘The Great British Bake Off’ are reportedly poised to launch a legal bid to air the programme in 2017.
The show is set to move from the BBC to Channel 4, but the programme’s original broadcaster believe it can block Love Productions from starting work on the much-discussed new series until at least 12 months from the airing of the final episode on the BBC.
An industry expert explained that the situation is more complicated than people may realise.
The industry insider told the Sunday People newspaper: “The BBC have what is known in the trade as a hold-back clause – it’s something they insist on as standard with all their shows.
“But with ‘Bake Off’ the situation is slightly different – because even though the BBC has lost the show, they still have to commercial rights for several more years.
“They’re duty bound by their own policy to maximise the commercial return on their own intellectual property rights – which covers merchandise – and keeping ‘Bake Off’ away from screens is not going to help with that.
“That could well form the basis of a strong legal argument to get the show on air sooner.”
Initially, Channel 4 had anticipated they would have to wait until 2018 to broadcast a series of the show in full.”

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