Vivendi’s Canal Plus has renewed its interest in buying a stake in Digital Plus, its Spanish counterpart, as it steps up its international expansion plans.

Bertrand Méheut, Canal Plus chief executive, told the FT he was “open” to buying the Spanish broadcaster. But he stressed that there had been no talks since last year when Prisa, the Spanish media group that owns Digital Plus, rejected a E2.4 billion joint offer for the company from Vivendi and Telefónica.

Prisa sold 44 per cent of Digital Plus last year to Telefónica and Mediaset of Italy, potentially leaving a majority stake for sale.

“We are not discussing it but we are open [to the idea],” Méheut said. He also said that Canal Plus would once again consider a partnership with the former Spanish telecoms monopoly.

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, M&A