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Germany: Media groups revive merger talks

By  |  July 6, 2015

German commercial broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 and German publishing house Axel Springer are in early-stage merger talks, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday.

The news of the merger talks was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, which cited sources saying the two companies were considering a deal in which ProSieben would be the senior partner.

Both Axel Springer, the publisher of Europe’s best-selling tabloid Bild, and ProSieben are in a race to adapt to rapidly changing markets.

The WSJ report said the talks could yet break down and would likely face regulatory scrutiny.

Springer had tried to buy ProSieben a decade ago but the deal was blocked in 2006 by media watchdog KEK, which feared the combined company would have too much influence on public opinion.

Full content: The Wall Street Journal

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