A realignment of Spanish media interests is expected to complete in the next few days with a merger between Mediaset’s Telecinco and Prisa’s Cuatro channel. The deal is expected to include a stake in the satcaster Digital+, which has been in play for much of 2009, and could be announced as early as today (Friday).
By including Digital+ Prisa will be able to pay off part of its heavy debt burden that represents six times the company’s core earning this year.
Prisa took control of the Sogecable content division, comprising Cuatro and Digital+, in 2008 after the withdrawal of both Vivendi and Telefonica. The Spanish telco returned to the table in November, purchasing a 21% stake for €470 million.
Separately, Antena 3 is in talks with La Sexta over a merger of their channel operations, though the two stations would continue to hold separate on-air identities.
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