Bertelsmann

MFE, Niel, Courbit and Kretinsky all table offers for M6 Group

Bertelsmann has received a trio of offers for its for-sale M6 Group following the broadcaster’s failed merger with TF1. The first news of an offer came on Friday, with Reuters reporting that Italy’s MediaForEurope had teamed up with Iliad’s billionaire owner Xavier Niel to submit a non-binding offer. Niel, who last week announced the surprise […]

M6 put up for sale by Bertelsmann

Bertelsmann has put French broadcaster M6 up for sale following the collapse of plans to merge it with TF1 last week. Thomas Rabe, CEO of the European media giant, told the Financial Times that he has sought non-binding offers for the company after being “inundated with expressions of interest” following its failed merger with fellow broadcast group TF1. […]

TF1 and M6 shares fall as Bertelsmann scrambles for new suitor ahead of deadline

France’s two largest broadcasters have seen their share price tumble after they abandoned plans to merge. Bouygues, RTL Group, Groupe TF1 and Groupe M6 called off the merger, initially announced in May, on Friday after the French Competition Authority ruling that further concessions would have to be made in order for it to be approved.  […]

Canal+ drops TF1 channels

Iliad Telecom appealing to EC on TF1-M6 merger

French and international service provider Iliad Telecom, parent of Free, is appealing for the European Commission to probe the planned merger of commercial broadcasters TF1 and M6, according to a report by financial daily Les Echos. According to the paper, pay TV operator Canal+ is considering joining Iliad in its move to bring the merger […]

Bertelsmann explores US$3.6 billion sale of France’s M6 Group

German media conglomerate Bertelsmann is reportedly looking to sell its controlling stake in French broadcast group M6 and has already approached potential buyers including France’s Vivendi and Altice Europe. Bertelsmann is said to be looking for a deal worth around €3 billionfor the M6 Group, which it controls through its subsidiary RTL Group, and includes […]

RTL names Rabe as CEO after Habets quits

RTL Group has named its chairman Thomas Rabe as CEO following the unexpected resignation of Bert Habets. Rabe will take on the role in addition to his existing duties as chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann, RTL’s 71.5% majority shareholder. RTL said that Habets had decided to resign as CEO and leave the RTL board for […]

Bertelsmann made 70 investments globally in 2017

RTL Group’s parent company Bertelsmann made more than 70 investments worldwide in 2017 through its Bertelsmann Investments division. Its investments included a leading a US$20 million financing round in US-based video creation platform Wibbitz in October. Wibbitz offers software that lets news publishers convert text into videos by using artificial intelligence. Its other investments included […]

UK-based European channels face uncertainty after Brexit vote

UK-licensed European channels face a period of uncertainty after last night’s Brexit vote, according to industry sources. Hundreds of networks within the European Union are licensed out of the UK by communications regulator Ofcom. With UK voters opting to leave the EU, the status of these licences, and how the channels will ensure their licences […]

RTL’s BroadbandTV teams up with BMG for music

Multichannel network BroadbandTV is to partner with Bertelsmann stablemate music publisher BMG on an initiative to push the emerging artists to YouTube and digital audiences. The two firms have created Windfall, which they say is “a model set for the digital age, providing an end-to-end solution to find, develop, and service artists across all platforms”. […]

FremantleMedia exec moves to MCN StyleHaul

FremantleMedia veteran Olivier Delfosse has been named COO of StyleHaul, Fremantle’s multichannel network sister firm within the RTL Group. At Germany-based StyleHaul, he will work closely on developing the business with CEO and president Stephanie Horbaczewski, working out of LA. At FremantleMedia, Delfosse drove global digital initiatives and partnerships with the likes of YouTube and […]

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