News Corp bidding for Euro pay-TV?

chris

Press reports on Friday suggest News Corp is interested in buying both Premiere (German pay-TV operator) and Digital+ of Spain, possible transactions that Rapid TV News has covered previously.

On Friday, the Wall Street Journal put two and two together and, quoting unnamed sources close to the company, asserted that News Corp is ready to expand its European pay-TV business. The investment needed for the two businesses, according to the WSJ, would be about US$4bn. News Corp already owns 25.1% of Premiere, and the EU has given its approval to a possible take-over subject to a few conditions.

RapidTVNews has covered the transactions at both Premiere and Digital+’s owner, Sogecable, in some detail, so it should come as no surprise to our readers that News Corp is a likely bidder for both. Spain’s Digital+, now that Sogecable is in the hands of Prisa, is available for purchase. However, when Digital+ does come onto the market then News Corp is unlikely to be the sole bidder. There is interest from its old owner Vivendi, as well as Spanish cable operator ONO and even Telefonica, as we have reported previously.


Source: RapidTVNews

Muad'Dib

Oh no, hope that doesnt come true.