euro news2005v3_news 23/05/2013 17:43 Page 2
EC clears Liberty Virgin Media deal
he European Commission has cleared the proposed acquisition of UK quad-play operator Virgin Media by cable MSO Liberty Global. The EC noted that the transaction, with a value of €17.2 billion, would bring together the second largest pay-TV operator in the UK (Virgin Media) and the largest cable operator in Europe (Liberty Global). The Commission’s investigation confirmed that the transaction would not raise competition concerns, in particular because the parties operate cable networks in different Member States and because of the merged entity’s limited market position in the wholesale of TV channels in the UK and Ireland.
T
The EC said that both Liberty Global and Virgin Media acquire audio visual content, such as individual TV pro-
basis or for linguistically homogeneous areas and because the merged entity would still face sufficient compet-
grammes and entire TV channels, which they then offer to their subscribers. The Commission examined, in particular, the market for the acquisition of TV content in the UK, Ireland and the European Economic Area (EEA) as a whole. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would not restrict competition in these markets because TV content is licensed mainly on a national
itive constraint from other players, such as TV content providers and competing pay-TV retailers. Moreover, the Commission investigated the vertical link between Liberty Global’s activities in the wholesale supply of pay-TV channels (e.g. Extreme Sports Channel, CBS Reality, Horror Channel, etc.) and Virgin Media’s activities in the acquisition of these channels and the retail of
pay-TV services to customers in the UK. The Commission concluded that the merged entity is unlikely to shut out competing pay-TV retailers by withholding its TV channels from them, given its very limited presence in the wholesale supply of TV channels and the incentive to license its TV channels as broadly as possible. Similarly, it is unlikely that the merged entity would shut out competing TV channel broadcasters from access to the retail pay-TV market, given the number of alternative distribution platforms to Virgin Media’s cable network (e.g. BSkyB’s satellite platform) and the importance of offering a large variety of TV channels in order to attract payTV subscribers.
Freeview tablet from Motive
On-demand content solutions specialist Motive Television is developing its Tablet Television technology to enable users of UK DTT platform Freeview to watch and record television programmes directly onto tablets - without the need to connect to the Internet. The initiative marks a strategic entry for the company into the UK market. With Motive’s app and an antenna-tuner containing Motive’s technology, tablet users will be able to watch all the programming currently available on the Freeview platform. Motive plans to license its technology to third party consumer electronics companies who will make the antennatuners widely available. Tablet TV lets the user watch any broadcast TV channel anywhere, without needing a hotspot or fast Internet signal. As with domestic Freeview viewing, there are no subscriptions needed and no interruptions resulting from buffering or network congestion. With Motive’s built in Tablet PVR, viewers can record any programmes and watch them later when they want, where they want for their own private use. Based on discussions underway with Freeview, Motive expects that its Freeview-compatible Tablet TV will: l receive all the Freeview channels available in the broadcast area; l offer a full 7-day 24 hour EPG with the Freeview look and feel; l have the ability to record directly onto the tablet (DVR); enable features such as series recording; l optionally have social media integration (with an Internet connection) Motive will seek approval for Tablet TV from the Digital Television Group and be D-Book compliant as well as have Freeview branding for its new product. Motive expects to demonstrate Tablet TV for Freeview later in 2013. Leonard M Fertig, CEO of Motive, said the company’s experience in developing Tablet TV for the United States made the extension to the highly-successful Freeview platform to tablets in the UK a natural next step: “We look forward to working with Freeview and its partne