ProSiebenSat.1 share: ProSiebenSat.1 boss rejects approach with RTL

“It’s good for this country when there are two private television companies that compete with each other in terms of diversity of opinion,” said ProSiebenSat.1 boss Beaujean of the “Sddeutsche Zeitung” (SZ). He also referred to antitrust law and a large market share of more than 70 percent that they would have together.

RTL boss Thomas Rabe keeps bringing the media companies closer together – but he always emphasizes that something like this is not currently on the agenda.

Before the general meeting of ProSiebenSat.1 shareholders in a few days, Beaujean also addressed the largest shareholder – Silvio Berlusconi’s Media for Europe (MFE) group with more than 25 percent of the voting rights. The relationship between the two houses is considered rather cool. The meeting is eagerly awaited because there were discussions in the run-up to the composition of the Supervisory Board or the question of whether the actions of the Management Board and Supervisory Board members should be approved in an individual vote.

The Italian media group has long-term plans for a European network of stations – MFE is not currently planning a takeover of ProSiebenSat.1, based in Unterfhring near Munich, as MFE CFO Marco Giordani told the “Handelsblatt” in March. ProSiebenSat.1 had expressed negative opinions in the past.

Giordani explained in March also with regard to the relationship with ProSiebenSat.1: “All relationships have potential for improvement.” Beaujean told the SZ: “I would agree with that. We would like a closer dialogue.” He also made it clear: “I see ProSiebenSat.1 as an absolutely independent company that grows out of itself.”

/rin/DP/he

UNTERFHRING (dpa-AFX)

Image sources: Holger Rauner ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, Jan Pitman/Getty Images