Media mogul Sumner Redstone, under pressure to restructure $1.6bn in debt, is edging towards a sale of all or most of a chain of 1,500 cinemas after receiving “active interest” from potential buyers, according to people familiar with the matter.

Half of the debt – held by National Amusements, the cinema chain that also holds his controlling stakes in Viacom and CBS – matures on December 19. However, the deadline could be extended if talks with lenders are constructive, these people say.