Speculations that German media concern Bertelsmann might be interested in acquiring a Hollywood studio have been dashed once more by CEO Thomas Middelhoff.

Speaking in an interview with the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit about his company's plans for the proceeds from the sales of its shares in AOL and AOL Europe, Middelhoff declared: "we are thinking of acquisitions in the American magazine market. Moreover, we believe that we can soon start expanding our interests in TV stations in Europe. The time is good for that".

But,"under no circumstance", he stressed "will we buy a Hollywood studio, and we are definitely not going to go into the cable business".