The prospects of a Vivendi takeover of Mediaset’s pay-TV interests are firming up.
The Canal+ owner is willing to buy all of Mediaset’s 89% that it holds in the DTT platform Mediaset Premium, a distant second behind Sky in the Italian market, however its Champions League rights make it a valuable exercise in Vincent Bollore’s rebuilding of Vivendi.
The remaining 11% in Mediaset Premium was acquired last year by the Spanish Telefonica.
Shares in Mediaset rose on the news.
Vivendi is already the largest shareholder in Telecom Italia and has made clear its intention to further develop its southern European portfolio.
