Video game industry trades and the blogosphere were abuzz on Wednesday with rumors of Viacom offering a 30 percent premium to buy Grand Theft Auto maker Take-Two Interactive for $1.5 billion.

A source familiar with the matter tells us it’s not true.

Seems the market sees it that way as well. Shares of Take-Two Interactive, which rose 6 percent yesterday on the rumor, ended the day lower. Shares are up less than 1 percent on Thursday morning.

Strong sales of its Rock Band game has increased Viacom’s appetite to expand its games businesses. Last year, Viacom’s MTV Networks earmarked $500 million to expand further into video games.

But for now, that’s about it. Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman has said on several occasions that the company had no appetite for big ticket deals, preferring smaller, “tuck-in” acquisitions or building internally.

Viacom declined comment. Take-Two has yet to get back to us. Move along folks. Nothing to see here.

Update: “Take-Two does not comment on rumors or speculation,” a Take-Two spokeswoman said in an e-mailed statement. 

(Photo: Reuters / Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick at the 2007 Reuters Media Summit)