• Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Media Info
    • Terms & Conditions for Advertisers
    • Mechanical Data

Broadband TV News

Independent. Since 2003

  • Home
  • News Line
    • Central & East Europe
    • People
  • TV
    • On Demand/VOD
    • IPTV
    • Cable
    • Satellite
    • Terrestrial
    • Distribution
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Columns
    • Chris Dziadul
    • Julian Clover
    • Robert Briel
  • Events
    • Events Diary
    • BTN Events
    • Events Coverage
    • Submit the details of your event
  • Features
  • Resources
    • White Papers

Liberty Global/Vodafone deal imminent?

April 22, 2018 21.16 Europe/London By Jörn Krieger

The long-expected plan by Vodafone to buy Liberty Global’s cable assets in Germany and parts of Eastern Europe is said to be in the final stages.

The deal could be agreed within the next two weeks, reports the Financial Times with reference to people with direct knowledge of the talks. If it happens, the transaction is likely to be worth as much as €16.5 billion including debt, according to the report.

In February 2018, Vodafone confirmed that it is in early stage discussions with Liberty Global regarding the potential acquisition of certain overlapping continental European assets owned by Liberty Global.

One of the core elements of the deal would be Liberty Global’s German cable subsidiary Unitymedia. By combining the former Kabel Deutschland cable network Vodafone acquired in 2013 with Unitymedia, Vodafone could create a powerful converged fixed-line and mobile operator offering its services nationwide, competing head-on with incumbent telco Deutsche Telekom.

Currently, Vodafone’s German cable network covers 13 federal states with Unitymedia serving the remaining three states. Vodafone and Liberty Global also have overlapping operations in further continental European countries including the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania.

However, absorbing Unitymedia might turn out to be not an easy operation for Vodafone. Deutsche Telekom has already made it clear that it would oppose the move and called for regulators to block any such deal, arguing that it would create a “monopoly” in parts of the market.

The consolidation in the German market would be the third move by Liberty Global to reorganise its cable assets in German-speaking Europe. In December 2017, the company sold its Austrian cable operator UPC to Deutsche Telekom’s subsidiary T-Mobile Austria.

In March 2018, it emerged that Liberty Global is said to be in talks with local Swiss telco Sunrise Communications Group about a potential partnership to combine and expand their businesses in Switzerland, creating a strong competitor to market leader Swisscom.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Cable, Editor's Choice, Finance, Newsline, Platforms, Top Story Tagged With: Deutsche Telekom, Liberty Global, Sunrise Communications Group, T-Mobile Austria, Unitymedia, UPC, Vodafone Edited: 24 April 2018 10:30

Avatar photo

About Jörn Krieger

Jörn reports on the latest developments in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Since 1992, he has been working as a freelance journalist, specialised in digital media, broadcast technology, convergence and new markets. He also takes up University lectureships, writes articles in specialist publications, and produces radio reports. Jörn is also a moderator of panel discussions at industry events such as ANGA COM, Medientage München and IFA Berlin.

Latest News

  • BBC Annual plan navigates tough financial climate
  • Porsche and ScreenHits TV in global streaming first
  • BBC to review social media guidance
  • Spain ups fast broadband coverage
  • Ukraine enacts and clarifies new media law

Free Ebook

Whitepaper: Why Wi-Fi 6 is Key for ISP Success

Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E client devices are entering the home in an unprecedented way, surpassing 50% market share since their introduction in 2019 (compared to four years for Wi-Fi 5). … [Download the eBook...]

Q & A

Q&A with Przemyslaw Frasunek, Redge Technologies

Broadband TV News speaks with Przemyslaw Frasunek, the CEO of Redge Technologies, about the CEE region OTT landscape and the most effective video security solutions.

Broadband TV News

  • Subscribe
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Logos & Pictures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Advertising

  • Media Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Mechanical Data
  • Video Services

News

  • Latest
  • Central & East Europe
  • TV
  • Tech
  • Streaming
  • Cable
  • Satellite
  • Terrestrial
  • IPTV
  • Business
  • People

Events

  • Events Diary
  • BTN Events
  • Submit the details of your event
  • Media Meet & Greet

Broadband TV News

PO Box 499
Cambridge
United Kingdom
CB1 0AH
news@broadbandtvnews.com

Connect with Us

 

Copyright © 2023 Broadband TV News LLP · Log in

 

Loading Comments...