Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8714 — P7S1/TF1/Mediaset/Channel 4 Group/EBX) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance. )
Date: 2018-02-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: advertising, economic concentration, holding company, merger control, television








C_2018053EN.01000501.xml










13.2.2018   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 53/5





Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.8714 — P7S1/TF1/Mediaset/Channel 4 Group/EBX)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2018/C 53/05)






1.


On 2 February 2018, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).
This notification concerns the following undertakings:






—


ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE (Germany),










—


Television Francaise 1 SA (France), belonging to the Bouygues Group,










—


Mediaset SpA (Italy), belonging to the Fininvest Group,










—


Channel Four Television Corporation (United Kingdom),










—


European Broadcaster Exchange (EBX) Limited (United Kingdom), jointly controlled by ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, Television Francaise 1 SA, Mediaset SpA, and Channel Four Television Corporation.




ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, Television Francaise 1 SA, Mediaset SpA and Channel Four Television Corporation acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of European Broadcaster Exchange (EBX) Limited.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.










2.


The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—   for ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE: a holding company of one of Germany’s major free television networks, also active in the areas of multimedia and merchandising,
—   for Television Francaise 1 SA: a holding company of one of France’s major free and pay television networks, engaged in various business activities related to the audiovisual sector,
—   for Mediaset SpA: a holding company of one of Italy’s and Spain’s major free and pay television networks, engaged in various business activities related to the audiovisual sector,
—   for Channel Four Television Corporation: a holding company of one of United Kingdom’s major television networks, a publicly owned and commercially funded public service broadcaster,
—   for European Broadcaster Exchange (EBX) Limited: a company active in the international marketing and sale of video advertising inventory served before, during, and after video content available on digital media such as websites and apps on smartphones or smart-TVs.










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.










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. The following reference should always be specified:
M.8714 — P7S1/TF1/Mediaset/Channel 4 Group/EBX
Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:





Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu




Fax: +32 22964301




Postal address:




European Commission




Directorate-General for Competition




Merger Registry




1049 Bruxelles/Brussel




BELGIQUE/BELGIË










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

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.