MFE–MediaForEurope has taken a 32.9% stake in Portuguese media group Impresa, extending its footprint to six European markets and strengthening its position on the Iberian Peninsula.
Impresa is the broadcaster of the SIC family of television channels and publisher of print and digital brands including weekly news magazine Expresso. The deal does not give MFE a controlling interest and is described as a strategic, industrial investment built around long-term collaboration with the Balsemão family, Impresa’s historic shareholders.
MFE now operates in Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Portugal. Chief executive Pier Silvio Berlusconi said the move expands the group’s broadcasting and commercial reach “to the entire Iberian Peninsula”, noting that many major advertisers already view Spain and Portugal as a single market.
Operational co-operation between MFE and Impresa will begin immediately, focusing initially on advertising sales and development of the Portuguese group’s digital platform. Both sides are positioning the partnership as a way to back local production while accelerating growth through streaming, digital distribution and new technologies.
Impresa CEO Francisco Pedro Balsemão said the company was “proud to become part of Europe’s leading media group”, adding that the partners share a focus on quality content, local production and technological innovation.
