Italian pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia is maintaining “informal contacts” with media group Mediaset after being rebuffed in an approach to acquire pay-television business Mediaset Premium, according to Reuters.
The news agency made the claim citing two sources close to the matter. A Sky Italia spokesman declined to comment on the report, while a Mediaset spokesman was unable to confirm the details.
Mediaset in February 2014 agreed to pay just over €230m ($247.5m) per season for exclusive rights to the Uefa Champions League club football competition in Italy for three seasons, from 2015-16 to 2017-18.
Reports have previously linked Sky Italia with a deal to acquire some of these rights, but Mediaset has denied any such suggestions.
Reuters added that pay-television broadcaster beIN Media Group has also resumed contacts with Mediaset over its pay-television business. Mediaset last year said it was in discussions with beIN, French media group Vivendi and others to cooperate in the pay-television business, only for these negotiations to be broken off last month.
Mediaset currently owns 89 per cent of Mediaset Premium after Spanish telecommunications group Telefonica bought an 11 per cent stake last year in a deal that valued the whole business at €900m.
Reuters said Telefonica has an option to sell the stake back if Mediaset finds another partner.