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Australia: Experts anticipate harsh scrutiny for Foxtel merger

By  |  September 15, 2014

Experts say any deal between pay-TV giant Foxtel and struggling free-to-air broadcaster Ten Network would face intense scrutiny from competition authorities, according to reports.

Under current rules, Foxtel cannot acquire more than a 15 percent stake in Ten.

Reports emerged in recent days that Foxtel was considering a joint bid for Ten along with US private equity firm Providence Equity Partners. The deal would prove lucrative to Foxtel, reports say, as a merger would grant it access to premium sporting rights that it cannot access otherwise, reports say.

But the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has already signaled concern over a hypothetical deal between the two. “We are concerned that a television station getting together with pay-TV might have competition concerns in the market for tip line sports,” the ACCC said.

Financial details of the rumored bid were not reported.

Full content: Sydney Morning Herald

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