Vivendi has declared it now owns 80 per cent of Canal Plus France, after acquiring a 5.1 per cent stake in the television channel for E384.2 million from French broadcaster M6-Metropole Television. Vivendi confirmed it plans to buy out minority shareholders in Canal Plus France and that an expert evaluation is being carried out to […]

Liberty Global has completed the sale of its 37.8 per cent stake in Jupiter Telecommunications (J:COM) to KDDI in a $4bn cash deal. The Tokyo-based carrier earlier this month scaled back its plan, saying it would retain 31.1 percent of Jupiter and place 6.7 percent in a trust bank, after the bid led Japan's financial […]

Central European Media Enterprises is buying News Corp's bTV, the free-to-air commercial television channel in Bulgaria, as well as the bTV Cinema and bTV Comedy cable channels and 74 per cent of Radio Company C.J. OOD which operates several radio stations (the bTV Group). Total consideration is $400 million cash. The transaction is subject to […]

Televisa, Mexico's largest broadcaster, has spelt out its ambitions to expand into the country's cellular telecommunications market with the purchase of 30 per cent of Nextel Mexico for $1.4 billion. Under the deal, Televisa will pay cash for the mobile operator, which is an unlisted subsidiary of NII Holdings. It will also have the option […]

Sumitomo, the Japanese trading house, has launched a Y122 billion ($1.4bn) tender offer for shares in Jupiter Telecommunications (J:COM) to secure its position as the leading shareholder in Japan's biggest cable television operator after KDDI bought a large stake. The offer sets the stage for a rare hostile battle between blue-chip Japanese corporations. Yoshio Osawa, […]

BC Partners and CVC Capital Partners have made a joint E5.5bn bid for Kabel Deutschland. The Carlyle Group, Advent International and Bain Capital are each also thought to have submitted separate bids for KDG which is owned by Providence Equity Partners, reports FT. Bankers say they are prepared to provide between E3.5 billion and E4bn […]

Modern Times Group is buying 50 per cent of Russian DTH pay-TV operator Raduga TV. Raduga claims 70,000 subscribers for its 50-channel service, which includes a package of international channels including Discovery, Eurosport and MTG-owned Viasat's History and Explorer channels. The Raduga TV package is priced at RUB300 ($10) per month on a three or […]

The Japanese Financial Services Agency has started an investigation into KDDI over its planned purchase of Jupiter Telecommunications shares from Liberty Global, according to reports in Japanese newspapers. The FSA is asking KDDI to change the planned purchasing method for the shares to a tender offer, the report said, as the transaction in its current […]

China Digital TV, provider of conditional access systems to China’s television market, has made a joint investment in OpenV, a leading Chinese online video company, alongside one of OpenV's existing shareholders. China Digital TV's investment will be up to $14.5 million through which China Digital TV's equity interest in OpenV would be approximately 25 per […]

International cable operator Liberty Global has completed the previously announced E3.5 billion deal to acquire Unitymedia, Germany's second largest cable operator. Gene Musselman, President and Chief Operating Officer of UPC Broadband, will serve as acting Managing Director of Unitymedia in addition to his European role. The move sees Parm Sandhu, current Chief Executive Officer of […]