The Israeli competition authority has given is approval to the merger of satellite platform YES with fixed line provider Bezeq, but with conditions.
YES will be restricted on the amount of exclusive content it can acquire from overseas and there must be no immediate offer of a triple play package – arguably one of the drivers of a merger in the first place – a means to compete with the Patrick Drahi-owned cable net HOT.
Bezeq holds 49.8% in YES, the remainder is in the hands of Bezeq chairman Shaul Elovitch.
Plans for a 2009 merger were rejected by the competition authority amid fears it would be anti-competive. It was later allowed to go ahead, the High Court agreeing with the authority that a number of conditions should be imposed.
In a statement Bezeq said it was studying the decision and its terms.
