Spanish regulator to investigate merger

Spanish competition regulator Comision Nacional de Competencia (CNC) is to roll out two separate investigations into the sale of free-to-air channel Cuatro to Telecinco. Mediaset-owned broadcaster Telecinco inked a €1.05bn deal with Spanish media group Prisa to acquire the channel as well as a 22% stake in pay TV platform Digital+, which is also owned 21% by Telefónica.

The regulator has separated the probe of the deal into two; focusing separately on Digital+ and Cuatro. It is expected to force Telefónica to make the pay TV service available to competing cable and IPTV operators.

“In relation to the entrance of Telefónica and Telecinco in Digital+, talks with the CNC are ongoing to reach an agreement, that enable us the entrance of both companies in the share capital of Digital+. Prisa expects a positive ruling on both proceedings in the short term,” it noted in a statement.

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