Advanced Television

Spain: Telefonica takes full control of Canal Plus

July 4, 2014

From David Del Valle in Madrid


VIVENDI PORTE SA PARTICIPATION DANS CANAL+ FRANCE À 75%Mediaset, owner of a 22 per cent stake in Canal Plus, has reportedly given the green light to sell its shares to Telefonica, for €350 million.

With this deal Telefonica will control 100 per cent of the pay-TV company Canal Plus and become the largest pay-TV operator in the market with over 2.6 million subscribers.

Telofonica had been negotiating with Mediaset Spain to buy its 22 per cent stake in the Spanish pay-TV platform Canal Plus over the last few weeks.

Telefonica had already acquired a 56 per cent stake in the platform for €750 million to raise its share to 78 per cent. Telefonica will now have a free hand to integrate TV, broadband and telephony in attractive offers through its brand Movistar Fusion.

Mediaset will remain one of the key content providers to the pay–TV company.

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