The Belgian provider Telenet, for an amount of 58 million euro the half of The Pond, Media in hands. With the purchase receive Telenet’s control over the Belgian television channels Four and Five, which together SBS Belgium lwa forms, and televisiebedrijf Woestijnvis.
Sanoma wanted to for some time of its Belgian activities. Underneath would not only be Belgian magazines, but also the tv-branch of the media company to fall. Telenet wants, according to The Editors like myself with tv to start because it struggles with new platforms, like Netflix, that will soon go to Belgium.
Telenet bought for an amount of 26 million shares of Sanoma and got through an additional investment of 32 million euros and 50 percent of The Pond Media in the hands. The other 50 percent remains in the hands of Wouter Vandenhaute, ceo of De Vijver Media, and the Belgian media group Corelio. Both possess currently 25 percent of The Pond. The agreement will be submitted to the European competition authorities for approval.
John Porter, ceo of Telenet, said that the participation of the provider in The Pond Media is a new step for the company to innovation in local content to achieve. “Our goal is to provide the Flemish viewers the best and most modern multimedia entertainment to offer. With a stake in The Pond Media, should that be possible,” says Porter. There is fear that Telenet may decide to SBS Belgium only available to private customers. Telenet ensures, however, that the channels Four and Five not of name will change and also remain available for customers of Belgacom and TV Vlaanderen. Woestijnvis, which in 1997 became active, among other things, responsible for programs like The Smartest Man in the World, and Man Bites Dog.
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