BSkyB mulls Digital+ bid

BSkyB is considering a €2.5 billion offer for Digital+, the Spanish DTH platform, which is expected to be auctioned by new owners Prisa later this year. Digital+ had been previously linked with Vivendi and Sky’s parent News Corp.

Mexican media magnate Carlos Slim ruled himself out of the bidding process early on.

The possibility of a Sky bid first emerged in the UK trade title New Media Markets. It is suggested that while News Corp was involved in other European activities, such as the purchase of the German digital platform Premiere, Sky’s free cash flow would allow it to make the purchase.

A recent realignment of News Corp’s European television activities has seen Sky Italia chief executive Tom Mockridge take on the additional role of chief executive, European Television.

Prisa is selling Digital+ to clear debts accrued in the purchase of Sogecable. Its prize was the free-to-air channel Cuatro.