Italian business magnate Silvio Berlusconi's family gains control over German TV network ProSiebenSat1
In a significant move for the European media landscape, MediaforEurope (MFE), led by Pier Silvio Berlusconi, the son of the late Italian prime minister and media mogul Silvio Berlusconi, is planning to take over more than 50% of shares in the German mass media company ProSiebenSat1.
ProSiebenSat1 has welcomed the takeover, as MFE will also take on the German company's high debts incurred due to declining advertising revenues. The Bavarian Regulatory Authority for New Media has stated that the takeover poses no threat to media diversity in Germany.
However, the news has raised concerns among some quarters. Wolfram Weimer, the German Minister of State for Culture, who is responsible for the German government's media-related affairs, might be concerned that Berlusconi wants to use the growing MFE group to launch a political career. Weimer seemed satisfied and relieved that the Berlusconi Group intends to strengthen Germany as a media hub and pay its taxes in the state of Bavaria.
Berlusconi, who is associated with the far-right Italian political party Forza Italia, has not ruled out entering politics in the future. If Pier Silvio were to enter politics in 2027, it would likely be with Forza Italia. This potential political affiliation has sparked criticism from the German Journalists' Association (DJV), which has sharply criticized the takeover, expressing concern about the continued existence of media diversity and critical journalism.
The DJV's concerns are not unfounded, as it remains unclear to what extent MFE will interfere with ProSiebenSat1's programming and content. Berlusconi has stated that the Berlusconi Group intends to produce and offer more localized content tailored to the German audience, but the specifics of this plan are yet to be revealed.
Analysts have viewed ProSiebenSat1's economic prospects as rather poor and advised against buying shares. This sentiment is shared by some within the media industry, with RTL Group, which belongs to Bertelsmann, recently buying Sky Deutschland from the US company Comcast, though the deal must still be approved by the competition authorities.
In the competitive German television and streaming market, apart from ProSiebenSat1, the major players are the RTL Group, ARD, and ZDF. Berlusconi's goal with MFE is to create a pan-European counterweight to global streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon.
In a meeting between Weimer and Berlusconi, an agreement on the importance of editorial independence was reached. Deutsche Welle, which is governed by public law, is financed from the budget of the Minister of State for Culture and Media but is independent in terms of programming and content.
A Czech investor group had wanted to take over ProSiebenSat1 but withdrew its offer. The takeover by MFE, however, has been welcomed by ProSiebenSat1, with Berlusconi assuring Weimer that the city of Munich, where ProSiebenSat1 is based, would be strengthened as a result of the takeover.
Berlusconi has expressed admiration for Italy's far-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and has not ruled out entering politics in the future. As the takeover progresses, the media industry and the German public will be watching closely to see how this development unfolds.
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