Mediaset drop in Q1 pay-TV revenues
May 14, 2014
From Branislav Pekic in Rome
Italy’s Mediaset has reported a slight drop in pay-TV revenues at the end of Q1 2014, while subscriber figures remain unchanged (around 2 million) compared to the 4Q 2013.
Mediaset Premium ended the first three months of 2014 with €142.8 million in revenues from smart card sales, top-ups and Easy Pay subscriptions, compared to €144.5 million in the Q1 2013.
During a conference call, Mediaset CFO Marco Giordani, defined as “non crucial” for Mediaset the project launched by Rupert Murdoch to merge the pay-TV operations in UK, Germany and Italy. However, he believes that “the Antitrust [regulators] should analyse very carefully” the issue, especially on national TV rights which may be used in other countries.
Commenting on Telefonica’s bid for 56 per cent of Digital Plus in Spain, Giordiani stated that Mediaset, once it receives official notification, will have 20 days to reach a decision whether to increase its 22 per cent share in the Spanish pay-TV operator.