Regulator approves DNA-PlusTV takeover

The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority has approved domestic telco, broadcaster and cable TV operator DNA’s acquisition of pay TV service PlusTV. 

The decision means that Plus TV will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of DNA in a week’s time and will be used to boost DNA’s existing TV offering, DNA said in a statement.

“DNA intends to offer both PlusTV and DNA customers better and more extensive antenna network services by combining the antenna TV offerings of both companies as soon as possible,” the firm said, promising more details once the transaction is complete.

DNA added that the PlusTV customers’ existing subscriptions and services will continue unchanged. However the firm, which claims to be the only pay-tv operator that offers terrestrial HDTV in Finland, said that PlusTV customers will now also be able to receive HD channels including Yle HD, MTV3 HD, Nelonen Pro 1 HD and Nelonen Pro 2 HD.

“We wish to create the best entertainment service in Finland, with the most satisfied customers,” said Pekka Väisänen, vice-president for DNA’s consumer business. “The sales, marketing and development of entertainment services has now become possible at the national level, and we intend to build better and better entertainment services for the Finnish people.”

DNA has approximately 600,000 cable network customers and more than 155,000 pay TV subscriptions in cable and antenna households. PlusTV adds a further 220,000 households as customers.