Green Light for Media Merger: RTL / Sky Passes Unconditionally
The European Commission (“Commission”) has unconditionally approved RTL Deutschland’s acquisition of Sky German, finding no competition concerns in the European Economic Area. The transaction brings together two vertically integrated players active across the audiovisual value chain, including content production, broadcasting, streaming and advertising, primarily in German-speaking markets.
The Commission’s assessment focused on multiple markets such as content acquisition, wholesale TV supply, retail audiovisual services and advertising. Despite overlaps, the Authority concluded that the parties are not close competitors and that sufficient alternative players remain across all levels. In particular, strong competitive pressure from global streaming platforms was identified as a key constraint, limiting any potential increase in buyer power or market concentration.
