Further doubt has been cast on Telefonica’s bid to acquire Canal+ after it emerged that talks between Spain’s competition authority, CNMC, and Telefonica were on the verge of collapse.
At the end of last year, the European Commission warned of significant competition issues in four particular markets: the distribution retail pay-TV services under the Movistar TV and Canal + brands; the distribution of TV content, the wholesale supply of TV channels and the packaging of communications services (Large Display Monitor Vol 21 No 48). At the time, the CNMC also voiced its concerns and said it would conduct its own investigation into the deal.
According to reports, Telefonica will not agree to share content and TV rights with its competitors, which the CNMC is demanding as a condition of approving the deal. The competition authority is expected to make a final decision in March.
