The Spanish Court Audiencia Nacional has refused appeals from a group of telecoms – Vodafone, Orange, Euskaltel, R, and Telecable, among others – and TV company Mediapro regarding the acquisition by Telefónica of Canal+ which was authorized by the regulator CNMC in April 2015.
The ruling states that the conditions imposed by the CNMC on the operation are sufficient to guarantee free competition in the market and avoid an abuse of a dominant position. Amongst those conditions were to share premium content and channels with third parties at reasonable prices.
The plaintiffs had made appeals against the acquisition on the grounds that the restrictions on the agreement were not enough.
Back in 2015, Telefónica bought from Prisa a 56%t stake in Canal+ for €706 million (US$863.23 million) to integrate it into the pay-TV platform Movistar Plus, the market pay-TV leader with almost 4 million subscribers.
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Federal Judge Orders Google to Open Android App Store Amid Antitrust Pressure
Oct 7, 2024 by
CPI
Federal Judge Greenlights FTC’s Antitrust Lawsuit Against Amazon, Tosses Some State Claims
Oct 7, 2024 by
CPI
Supreme Court Rejects Uber and Lyft’s Appeal in California Gig Worker Suits
Oct 7, 2024 by
CPI
Supreme Court Sidesteps 5-Hour Energy Pricing Case, Allowing Antitrust Claims to Proceed
Oct 7, 2024 by
CPI
Tempur Sealy and Mattress Firm Argue FTC Proceedings Are Unconstitutional in New Suit
Oct 7, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Refusal to Deal
Sep 27, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust’s Refusal-to-Deal Doctrine: The Emperor Has No Clothes
Sep 27, 2024 by
Erik Hovenkamp
Why All Antitrust Claims are Refusal to Deal Claims and What that Means for Policy
Sep 27, 2024 by
Ramsi Woodcock
The Aspen Misadventure
Sep 27, 2024 by
Roger Blair & Holly P. Stidham
Refusal to Deal in Antitrust Law: Evolving Jurisprudence and Business Justifications in the Align Technology Case
Sep 27, 2024 by
Timothy Hsieh