(Telecompaper) UK operator TalkTalk has emerged as the frontrunner to purchase supermarket chain Tesco's lossmaking SVOD service Blinkbox, people familiar with the situation told the Financial Times. A deal could be announced as early as the week of 5 January 2015, when Tesco's new CEO, Dave Lewis, unveils a strategy to turn Tesco around. An acquisition would strengthen the TalkTalk TV business, which is the UK's fastest growing TV provider with over 1.2 million customers. Blinkbox has not revealed the size of its customer base. Talks are ongoing and the deal may not be completed, said two people familiar with the matter, adding that the purchase price for Blinkbox would be small due to the service's losses. Vodafone has also previously looked at Blinkbox. Tesco and TalkTalk would not comment.