The European Commission has referred the planned online joint venture between German broadcasters ProSiebenSat.1 and RTL to the German and Austrian competition authorities at their request.
The purpose of the joint venture is to create a common catch-up TV internet platform, where viewers can see programmes on demand up to seven days after broadcast on free-to-air TV. After a preliminary investigation, the Commission found that the proposed transaction would affect competition in national online TV and advertising markets in Austria and Germany. These markets will now be examined by the Austrian and German competition authorities under national law.
The Commission’s investigation confirmed that the proposed transaction would affect competition in the national markets for online “catch-up” TV and advertising in Austria and Germany. The Austrian Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde and German Bundeskartellamt will now investigate the effect of the joint venture on their respective national markets.
