# C_2014187EN.01000801.xml

| 19.6.2014 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 187/8 |
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19.6.2014

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 187/8

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7288 — Viacom / Channel 5 Broadcasting)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2014/C 187/08

| 1. | On 10 June 2014, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Viacom Inc. (‘Viacom’, United States) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited (‘Channel 5 Broadcasting’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 10 June 2014, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Viacom Inc. (‘Viacom’, United States) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited (‘Channel 5 Broadcasting’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Viacom: global entertainment content company,
  —   for Channel 5 Broadcasting: public service broadcaster, active in the UK. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Viacom: global entertainment content company,

for Viacom

—   for Channel 5 Broadcasting: public service broadcaster, active in the UK.

for Channel 5 Broadcasting

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

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| 4. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7288 — Viacom / Channel 5 Broadcasting, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7288 — Viacom / Channel 5 Broadcasting, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

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(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.

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