ProSieben rejects merger with Axel Springer or Bertelsmann/RTL
ProSiebenSat.1 considers itself strong enough for a future on its own two feet, and thinks nothing of a merger with a German media company. It does not want to be involved in a merger with Axel Springer or Bertelsmann/RTL, ProSieben CEO Rainer Beaujean told the FAZ according to an advance report on Tuesday.
"In addition to diminishing diversity of opinion, there would be numerous regulatory hurdles to overcome." The Group CEO, who has been in office for just over a year, added: "We therefore do not want to pursue such a defensive move, but instead concentrate fully on continuing our growth."
Two weeks ago, Beaujean had already emphasized that ProSiebenSat.1 was coming through the crisis better with its dating business and other online portals than pure media companies. This was also seen as a jab at the company's own major shareholder Mediaset, which wants to involve ProSieben more closely in its growth plans in Europe.
Now Beaujean told the FAZFor him, a merger with the Italian rival would not make sense. There is no added value, either in programming or product, he said. "Mediaset is a 100 percent TV provider, hanging on to fluctuating advertising revenues, which affects the profitability of the business." This is exactly the opposite of ProSiebenSat.1's development, he said.
Thomas Rabe, also head of Bertelsmann and its TV subsidiary RTL, had said in an interview that he could imagine a takeover of ProSiebenSat.1 if the antitrust authorities relented. Rabe advocates mergers in the TV industry at country level and wants to forge a national champion in France with the merger of RTL subsidiary M6 and broadcaster TF1 to stand up to Netflix&Co. (SDA)
