Advanced Television

M&A

Telefónica wins Canal+ takeover court battle

The Spanish Court Audiencia Nacional has refused appeals from a group of telcos – Vodafone, Orange, Euskaltel, R and Telecable, among others – and TV company Mediapro regarding the acquisition by Telefónica of Canal+ which was authorised by the regulator CNMC in April 2015. The ruling states that the conditions imposed by the CNMC on […]

May 24, 2021From David Del Valle in Madrid

MobiTV sale to TiVo approved

A Delaware bankruptcy judge signed off the purchase by TiVo Corp (and its owner Xperi) of MobiTV’s assets on May 21st. Judge Laurie Silverstein was told that there were no competing bids and that the process was now unopposed with all objections to the sale resolved. The bankruptcy court agreed the overall $18.5 million (€15.1m) […]

May 24, 2021By Chris Forrester

Paris Premiere for sale?

The proposed merger between French commercial broadcasters TF1 and M6, and the implications of the merger for investors RTL and Bouygues as well as the boards of TF1 and M6, have generated plenty of comment in the French press. It has been confirmed that as a result of the merger – not likely to close […]

May 21, 2021By Chris Forrester

Virgin, O2 merger given green light

Following a provisional clearance in April 2021, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is now allowing the proposed merger of Virgin Media and Virgin Mobile with O2 to go ahead. Both Virgin and O2 sell wholesale services to a number of mobile operators in the UK. Virgin supplies wholesale leased lines to mobile operators […]

May 20, 2021By Colin Mann

Banks analyse TF1, M6 merger

French commercial networks TF1 and M6 are in exclusive merger negotiations. The intention is to create a French media group which offers TV and radio as well as digital choices and content production. If approved by the authorities, the proposal would create France’s largest broadcasting group. Analysts at investment bank Exane/BNPP note that the new […]

May 19, 2021

Report: Nordic implications of Discovery, WarnerMedia merger

This week saw yet another mega merger announced in the world of TV and streaming. In a multi-billion deal, AT&T will combine its WarnerMedia with Discovery. The aim is to form a premier, standalone, global entertainment company. Mediavision asks: what would the impact be today on the Nordic SVoD market of a merger between HBO […]

May 19, 2021

TF1, M6 “exclusive” merger talks

Groupe TF1, Groupe M6, Groupe Bouygues and RTL Group have signed agreements to enter into exclusive negotiations to merge the activities of Groupe TF1 and Groupe M6 and create a major French media group. They say the new group would be well positioned to master the challenges arising from the accelerating competition with global platforms, […]

May 18, 2021By Colin Mann

Amazon eyes MGM in $9bn deal

Amazon is in talks to buy MGM Studios, one of the world’s oldest production studios, for $9 billion (€7.3bn). A deal would see Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service gain access to a vast back catalogue of iconic content – including the James Bond franchise, the Rocky movies, The Hobbit trilogy and The Handmaid’s Tale TV […]

May 18, 2021

WarnerMedia, Discovery spin-off confirmed

AT&T and Discovery have confirmed an agreement to combine WarnerMedia’s  entertainment, sports and news assets with Discovery’s nonfiction and international entertainment and sports businesses to create a standalone global streaming entertainment company. Under the deal AT&T will receive $43 billion [€35.45bn] (subject to adjustment) in a combination of cash, debt securities, and will own 71 […]

May 17, 2021

AT&T: Must all telco TV end in tears?

This blog replaces one about BT trying to sell its expensively fashioned TV assets. AT&T is also bailing from TV, and its entanglement with entertainment makes BT’s foray look cheap and well-managed. While AT&T keeps a big stake, the maths isn’t appetising from their stockholder’s point of view. The new company has a proforma enterprise […]

May 17, 2021