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EU OKs Acquisition Of Freesat By Channel 4 With BBC & ITV

By  |  May 3, 2021

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of Freesat (UK) Limited by Channel 4 Television Corporation (Channel 4), together with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and ITV Network Limited, all of the UK. 

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    Freesat is a joint venture currently controlled by BBC and ITV. Freesat provides a satellite broadcasting platform to approximately 1.1 million homes. Channel 4 is a publicly-owned and commercially-funded UK public service broadcaster which operates a portfolio of channels accessible on a free-to-view basis, via a variety of platforms and devices. 

    BBC is a public sector broadcaster providing a wide range of TV and radio channels, as well as iPlayer and other on-demand services which are accessible to license fee payers throughout the UK via a variety of platforms and devices. 

    ITV is an integrated producer broadcaster who creates and distributes content on multiple platforms globally and broadcasts a portfolio of commercial channels. 

    The Commission concluded that the operation does not raise any competition concerns since there are no horizontal nor vertical overlaps between the activities of Channel 4 and Freesat.