|

Canal Plus Admits Talks With BSkyB

Canal Plus Admits Talks With BSkyB

According to reports in today’s national press, BSkyB and French TV company Canal Plus are currently in preliminary talks concerning alliances, joint ventures and possibly the merging of the two companies.

An article in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal sparked off speculation, but BSkyB declined to comment when contacted by Newsline. Canal Plus did confirm that it was in talks with BSkyB, but also mentioned however, that it was in talks with other groups, and that such discussions were part of its normal business relations.

BSkyB, 40% of which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, currently has no major presence outside the UK despite its leading exploration into digital television in the domestic arena. Canal Plus is one of Europe’s leading TV groups. It currently has 10 million subscribers to its pay TV service. The merger of the two groups would create what would become Europe’s dominant pay broadcaster.

Any proposal to merge the companies is expected to come up against opposition from European regulators.

More details will appear on Newsline when available. See today’s Sharewatch for a look at BSkyB’s share price activity.

BSkyB’s bid for Manchester United Football Club is currently undergoing investigation by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) (see Newsline)

BSkyB: 0171 705 3200 Canal Plus: 00 33 144 25 10 00

Media Jobs