BERLIN (Reuters) – Austrian regulator BWB has requested that the cartel court review an increase in MediaForEurope’s stake in ProSiebenSat.1, which the agency said on Wednesday would amount to de-facto control over the German broadcaster.
Italy’s MFE, which began investing in ProSieben in 2019 and now holds a 29% stake in its German peer, is seeking to build a pan-European TV platform.
MFE said on Nov. 21 that a takeover offer was not intended.
BWB said it was assessing the effect of an increased stake by MFE in ProSiebenSt.1 on media diversity in Austria, and had asked the cartel court to weigh in.
(Writing by Linda Pasquini, Editing by Rachel More)