Austria’s competition regulator has given the all clear for MediaforEurope (MFE) to invest in ProSiebenSat.1.
The former Mediaset is looking to create a pan European TV platform.
The merger was initially registered at the end of 2022 and initially withdrawn following the instigation of an examination by the BWB and Austria’s Antitrust Court. The Federal Cartel Prosecutor also filed an examination request at the time.
Following approval by the European Commission, the application returned to Austria, where MFE gave assurances to the regulators that its Austrian unit would retain editorial independence.
“Media diversity is a great asset in democracy and every possible restriction is carefully examined by the BWB. The merger was registered for the first time in 2022 and was withdrawn after the initiation of the antitrust proceedings by the BWB. This year, it went into an in-depth examination before the Cartel Court again in December. With the conditions now finally promised by the applicants to secure media diversity, this procedure can be completed,” says Natalie Harsdorf-Borsch, Director General of the BWB.
Among the assurances are a commitment to retain Austrian originated news at current levels and sell advertising inventory separately through P7S1 Austria Group.
