Mediaset to revise pay-TV strategy

Mediaset is set to make its Premium pay-television service and content available to other operators and could scale back its coverage of football if the rights become too costly, the Italian media group told investors yesterday (Wednesday).

Mediaset also said that it would open up its domestic digital-terrestrial pay-television platform to third-party content platforms.

Three analysts who attended the London presentation told the Reuters news agency that Mediaset’s forecast that the changes to its Premium division could deliver about €200m ($213m) in operating profit by 2020 could be achieved mainly by cutting costs linked to broadcasting football’s Uefa Champions League and domestic Italian football.

The strategy changes have been announced after a proposed sale of Mediaset Premium to media company Vivendi fell through last year.

Mediaset, one of the leading sports broadcasters in Italy, is currently seeking damages from Vivendi, which has continued to increase its stake in the Italian media company.