Bundeskartellamt clears takeover of DSF and Sport 1 by EM.TV/Karstadt Quelle consortium without obligations
08.05.2003
The Bundeskartellamt has cleared the planned acquisition of control of DSF Deutsche Sportfernsehen GmbH, Ismaning, and the online sports portal Sport 1 GmbH, Ismaning, by a consortium formed by EM.TV & Merchandising AG, Unterföhring, and Karstadt Quelle AG, Essen, without obligations.
The DSF TV channel produces sports-related programmes and coverage an
The Bundeskartellamt has cleared the planned acquisition of control of DSF Deutsche Sportfernsehen GmbH, Ismaning, and the online sports portal Sport 1 GmbH, Ismaning, by a consortium formed by EM.TV & Merchandising AG, Unterföhring, and Karstadt Quelle AG, Essen, without obligations.
The DSF TV channel produces sports-related programmes and coverage and holds licences for broadcasting sports events in football and Formula One. Both DSF and Sport 1 are part of the now insolvent KirchMedia group.
According to Bundeskartellamt President Ulf Böge the examination of the merger project has established that it is not expected to create or strengthen dominant positions. In the German television advertising market EM.TV and Tele München Gruppe (in which EM.TV has a share) and DSF are positioned well behind the two leading TV broadcasting groups RTL and ProSiebenSat 1. The separation of DSF and ProSiebenSat. 1, which originally both belonged to the Kirch group, represents a deconcentrative effect. In the TV production sector the project will not alter the market structure in a way which would pose a problem under competition law. Clearance was therefore possible within the one month time limit.
d holds licences for broadcasting sports events in football and Formula One. Both DSF and Sport 1 are part of the now insolvent KirchMedia group.
According to Bundeskartellamt President Ulf Böge the examination of the merger project has established that it is not expected to create or strengthen dominant positions. In the German television advertising market EM.TV and Tele München Gruppe (in which EM.TV has a share) and DSF are positioned well behind the two leading TV broadcasting groups RTL and ProSiebenSat 1. The separation of DSF and ProSiebenSat. 1, which originally both belonged to the Kirch group, represents a deconcentrative effect. In the TV production sector the project will not alter the market structure in a way which would pose a problem under competition law. Clearance was therefore possible within the one month time limit.