Berlusconi Family Secures Majority Stake in German TV group

Minister voices concern about editorial independence

Media for Europe (MFE), controlled by the family of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, has secured a commanding 75.61% stake in Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1 media group. The expansion follows MFE’s earlier takeover bid in March, when it already held a third of the German broadcaster’s shares. The acquisition, finalised after Czech group PPF agreed to sell its 15.68% stake, is expected to be completed in September.

ProSiebenSat.1 operates 15 television channels, a production company, and a popular streaming platform, and is best known for “Germany's Next Top Model”. With a market capitalisation of around €1.9bn, the company’s addition makes MFE the continent’s third largest commercial TV operator, trailing only Bertelsmann-owned RTL and the UK’s ITV.

Editorial and economic independence

Pier Silvio Berlusconi, MFE’s chief executive and son of the late prime minister, recently met with German officials, who voiced concern over ProSieben’s editorial and economic independence. The German government has pledged to monitor the influence of the Berlusconi family, particularly given past ties to controversial figures.

With its new holdings and Mediaset, MFE now reaches approximately 210 million people across five European markets. The group’s ambition is to establish a pan-European broadcasting giant capable of taking on US streaming giants like Netflix—while maintaining strong local identities in Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

(Michael Leahy. Source: Cannes or Bust. Photo: MediaForEurope)