The Bavarian media regulator considers speculation about a possible merger of the private TV groups RTL and ProSiebenSat.1 in Germany to be unrealistic.
The President of the Bavarian State Center for New Media (BLM), Thorsten Schmiege, told the German Press Agency: “The fact that RTL and ProSiebenSat.1 merge is legally unthinkable with a view to media concentration. It would probably also be in terms of competition law – keyword Bundeskartellamt – not possible.”
However, the chief regulator also added: “What we have to see is the development of the digital infrastructure – especially with regard to the large US providers. In comparison, even the national providers are small.” When it comes to technical cooperation and joint innovations – keyword streaming platforms – “you also have to exercise a sense of proportion in competition law. It should also be possible to join forces between national providers”. The state media authorities oversee private broadcasting and network offerings.
A merger of RTL and ProSiebenSat.1 has so far not been a specific topic for the two listed companies themselves. At the same time, RTL boss Thomas Rabe repeatedly mentioned a possible approach to ProSiebenSat.1 – but without becoming specific. In January, for example, he said he was convinced that sooner or later they would “converge” if the transactions planned by RTL were implemented on the TV markets in France and the Netherlands.
ProSiebenSat.1 is cautious
In France, however, corresponding RTL merger plans by two private TV companies burst due to competition concerns. In the Netherlands, the result is still pending. ProSiebenSat.1 had so far been cautious or negative about the RTL statements.
There was a recent change at the head of ProSiebenSat.1. The former RTL manager Bert Habets will in future control the group based in Unterföhring near Munich.
The Italian TV company owned by the family of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi holds a large stake in ProSiebenSat.1. When asked what his view of a politician’s interest in the media was, Schmiege said: “In Germany, it is viewed very sensitively that Berlusconi, a politician who also has a seat in the European Parliament, is holding a stake in a broadcaster. We’re keeping a very close eye on that.”
The limit of 25 percent, which is decisive with regard to media concentration for a significant participation, has not yet been exceeded. “But we follow closely how the influence is actually exercised even below this threshold,” added Schmiege.
The Italian Berlusconi media company Media for Europe (MFE) has repeatedly spoken of a European network of broadcasters, which they are striving for – but so far no concrete plans have been made. The relationship between the two media houses has so far been viewed as cool from the outside. MFE recently announced that it would strengthen its presence in Germany with its own office in Munich.
