The merger between RTL Nederland and Talpa Network has been cancelled. Eighteen months after the announcement, the media companies have not received permission from the regulator. RTL and Talpa are not allowed to merge, because the merged company would have too powerful a position in the commercial media landscape.
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has already stated that a merger can have adverse consequences for advertisers, producers of television programs, distributors of television channels and ultimately the viewer. ACM now maintains that position.
The companies were given the opportunity to submit an amended plan earlier. The competition watchdog then further investigated whether the position of the merged company in the advertising market would not become too strong. Advertisers and distributors were also involved in this research.
ACM is now preparing for the official decision not to grant a license for the acquisition. That will be completed in a few weeks.
Fusie Talpa Network en RTL Nederland
- RTL Nederland en Talpa Network kondigden in juni 2021 aan te willen samengaan. Als Talpa en RTL niet fuseren, verliezen ze het van Amerikaanse en Chinese techreuzen, zei Talpa-baas John de Mol toen.
- RTL Nederland is eigenaar van onder meer RTL 4, 5, 7, 8 en Z en streamingdienst Videoland. Talpa Network heeft SBS6, Net5, Veronica, het platform KIJK en de radiozenders Radio 538, Radio 10, Sky Radio en Radio Veronica in handen.
- Na de aankondiging tekenden verschillende partijen bezwaar aan, zoals de adverteerdersbond en concurrent DPG Media, die zelf met RTL Nederland in gesprek was geweest.
‘Merger had opened up new opportunities’
In a response, Talpa writes that the decision was already known to the company on January 26. John de Mol’s group reacts disappointed in a press release. Talpa remains convinced that the merger is “the best response to the challenges arising from competition from major international players, both in the battle for content and in the battle for viewers and advertisers”.
RTL also has no doubt that new opportunities could have been created with the merger. In a press release, CEO Sven Sauvé emphasizes that the company is also in good shape.
Talpa now writes that the parties will continue to look at “alternative options to continue to face international competition”.
