Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe desires to revive the failed merger of French nets TF1 and M6.
Chatting with the FT, Thomas Rabe mentioned that softening European regulation meant he’ll exploring easy methods to revive the merger, which might have introduced his RTL-owned M6 along with Bouygues-owned industrial broadcaster group TF1.
The earlier try and convey the businesses collectively in 2022 was deserted after being thwarted by European Union regulators, who thought of the merged group can be too dominant within the TV promoting market and mentioned one of many important channels concerned would have to be offered to rectify the difficulty.
Nevertheless, with Europe showing to be extra agreeable to its media teams strengthening within the face of the Trump administration within the U.S. and more and more highly effective international streaming providers, Rabe desires to place a “extremely” synergistic deal again on the agenda. The businesses’ mixed income was €3.7B ($4.1B) in 2024 and so they had a mixed market cap of €3.6B.
“It could create a real French TV and streaming champion, capable of compete with the U.S. platforms,” Rabe instructed the FT.
A spokesman for Groupe TF1 mentioned: “We are able to see placing such a mission again on the desk when the authorized and regulatory circumstances allow it.”
This follows a report from former European Central Financial institution chief Mario Draghi final yr on EU competitiveness, which advised regulators ought to chill out merger guidelines. Because the FT reported, the brand new EU competitors commissioner, Teresa Ribera, has since begun work to evaluate whether or not regulation is “match for the brand new realities” of world competitors.
Rabe welcomed the change in method and mentioned: “We’ve been the victims of those guidelines greater than as soon as. We’ve got tried to create European champions in media and we had been blocked by the regulators — I consider for no good cause. Now the European Fee talks in regards to the necessity to reform and promote European champions. Implausible. Let’s do it.”
Bertelsmann owns the likes of M6, publishing Penguin Random Home, European broadcast group RTL and its subsidiary, Received Expertise maker Fremantle. TF1, owned by telecoms large Bouygues, runs TV channels and owns Studio TF1, which lately modified its title from Newen Group.
