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EU: BSkyB mergers pursue pay-TV empire

By  |  May 12, 2014

The UK’s top pay-TV conglomerate BSkyB, owned by mogul Rupert Murdoch, is reportedly looking to acquire Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia in efforts to create a cross-continental pay-TV operation.

The acquisitions, reported to be worth about $13.75 billion, would push Murdoch closer to his long-held goal of consolidating his EU TV assets. Reports say if the mergers succeed, the new business would service 20 million subscribers and position the company in a stronger position against rival BT.

BSkyB would have to acquire the stakes from Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia from their current owner Fox; Fox owns 100 percent of the Italian firm and 55 percent of the German company, reports say.

But the acquisitions are not guaranteed, reports say, and remain in preliminary discussion phases.

Full content: Reuters

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