News Corp. to acquire Danish developer ITE

NDS Group, a division of News Corp. specialising in digital TV technology, has acquired Danish publisher and developer ITE, best known in Europe for its Hugo titles.

The developer has had recent success with interactive TV, as well as publishing titles for the PlayStation 2 and GameBoy.

"NDS constantly seeks to enrich its offering to customers and ITE is an established leader in the games development and publication arena that fully compliments our existing, high quality interactive TV games proposition," said Jesper Knutsson, MD of NDS Denmark.

"The acquisition further enhances the ability of NDS to offer its existing portfolio of leading content owners and multinational broadcasters world leading interactive games solutions across a wider range of platforms, as well as opening up new opportunities in other, high-growth interactive gaming markets," he added.

The move reignites speculation over Rupert Murdoch's interest in the games industry, which in the past has seen his company linked to possible publisher acquisitions, in particular UK-based Eidos.