Italy’s largest commercial broadcaster Mediaset has revealed that it is considering merging its pay-TV operations in its Italian and Spanish markets.

A statement from the company said the boards of directors of Mediaset and Mediaset España had authorised the evaluation of a project for the integration and development of the Group’s pay-TV activities in a single stand-alone company.

“The operation foresees the contribution to a newco of 100 per cent of the activities of Mediaset Premium and the 22 per stake – along with all the related options and rights – held in the Spanish operator Digital Plus.

The evaluation will examine international development potential, possible synergies, the expansion of over-the-top services, as well as the eventual involvement of industrial and/or financial partners in the newco,” it explained, adding that the result of the evaluation would be examined by the boards of both Mediaset and Mediaset España during upcoming scheduled meetings.

The move follows suggestions in Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore, that Mediaset and Spanish telco Telefónica would jointly buy 56 per cent of pay-TV platform Digital Plus to gain full 100 per cent ownership. The pair currently hold 44 per cent of Digital Plus shares.

The newspaper reports that Digital Plus owner Prisa would not accept an offer lower than €900 million, which they may now be willing to pay.

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