Website: Rapid TV News

Mediaset’s Spanish channel Telecinco will merge with Sogecable’s Cuatro in Q3 this year.

Fedele Confalonieri, Mediaset’s president, assured the deal will complete by then.

Pier Silvio Berlusconi, Mediaset’s vicepresident, said after closing the operation Telecinco will present an industrial plan.

At the same time he declared the adquisition of 22% of Sogecable’s satellite pay-TV operator Digital+ by Telecinco is “strategic because it’s positive to have Telefónica as a partner. We are very confident pay-TV will develop in Spain”.

Last November Telefónica signed an agreement with Prisa to acquire 21% of Digital+ for €470 million.

Finally Mediaset’s vicepresident hoped to “strenghten the leadership in Spain’s advertising market and also in TV audiences.” He also hopes to gain synergies in the incomes and through this merger.