The Portuguese Competition Authority (Autoridade da Concorrência – AdC) has launched an investigation into the acquisition of Media Capital by Altice.
Media Capital’s interests include popular TV channel TVI, Rádio Comercial, M80, Cidade FM, Smooth FM and Rádio Vodafone radio stations, the IOL internet portal, and the internet-based TVI Player platform.
The merger is one of a series of vertical integrations between media companies around the world that brings together between one of the leading providers of telecommunications, pay-TV and multiple play services, and the leading provider of audiovisual contents and pay-TV channels in Portugal.
AdC fears the merger could hit the development of new content and online broadcasting.
Should the investigation conclude the merger could harm the market the regulation has the power to prohibit the merger or accept mitigation from Altice.