Talks between Mediaset and Sky for the sale of Mediaset Premium are at an advanced stage, according o a report in il Sole 24 Ore.
Talks between the two parties surfaced last November, but according to the Italian newspaper report, the main stumbling block was the price, but now it seems that the parties are very close. Talks between Vivendi and Mediaset failed to reach an agreement last year.
Mediaset is still struggling with the fact that Vivendi is closing in by acquiring almost 30% of its shares. Another issue is the fact that Sky Italia and Mediaset Premium own the rights to the main Italian football league between team and an acquisition would bring all the rights in one pair of hands.
Meanwhile, Vivendi also holds a 24% stake in Telecom Italia, and the Italian regulator AGCOM is looking into the matter.
A merger between the two pay-TV operators would make sense, as Mediaset Premium is still a loss-making operation.
