Murdoch And Berlusconi Upping Their European Pay-TV Stakes
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Rupert Murdoch and Silvio Berluscioni are both doubling down on pay-TV investments outside their native markets, pushing the European sector to further consolidation ...
SEE ALSO: Telefonica, Vivendi Mull Bid For Spain’s Digital Plus TV Outfit
News Corp (NYSE: NWS) is raising its stake in German cable and satellite TV provider Sky Deutschland AG—again. The media giant plans to invest up to €120 million Euros ($171 million), taking its stake from 39.9 percent to 45.4 percent.
Formerly called Premiere AG, News Corp first took a 14.5 percent stake in the company in January 2008. It followed with incremental investments over the course of the year, and rebranded it “Sky”, in line with its UK and NZ broadcast assets, this summer.
Meanwhile, Italian prime minister Silvo Berlusconi’s Spanish broadcast network Telecinco has done a deal with fellow Spanish media company Prisa. Prisa has been struggling to sell, spin-off or just get pay its TV outlet Digital Plus to turn a profit. Now, Telecinco is spending €500 million ($716 million) for a 22 percent stake in Digital Plus, Telecompaper reports.
The deal also includes the merging of the two companies’ free-to-air networks. Telecinco will take control of Prisa’s Canal Cuatro, giving Prisa €550 million ($787 million) and roughly an 18.3 percent stake in Telecinco, in exchange.
@GeekyChic
Dec 21, 2009 12:23 PM ET
Posted In: Media & Publishing, TV, VOD, Money, M&A & Venture Capital, Venture Capital, Companies, News Corp., mediaset
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