UK: Swisscom, Ringier, SRG get regulator clearance

Switzerlands’s Competition Commission has approved the joint marketing company planned by Ringier, SRG and Swisscom. In its examination of the business plan of the three partners, the regulator found no indication that effective competition would be harmed by the project. Therefore, the new marketing organization may be established, as planned.

The Competition Commission submitted the planned bundling of the marketing activities of Ringier, SRG and Swisscom to an in-depth examination; it investigated the expected position of the new company, which would dominate the market for target-group specific TV advertising. In the process of its examination, the Weko came to the conclusion that due to effective competition the joint venture can be approved as planned without requirements or conditions.

The project involves the establishment of a corporation in which each of the three companies has a one-third interest. Swisscom and Ringier will contribute their advertising activities, their advertising inventory and their marketing organisations to the joint venture, while SRG will integrate its marketing company, Publisuisse, into the new corporation. The name of the new company has not been determined yet. The company’s services will be available to all advertising clients, agencies and to other providers of advertising inventory.

Full content: Yahoo! News

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