TDF Acquires T-Systems' Media&Broadcast
"TDF’s acquisition of Media&Broadcast will give rise to the leading European TV and radio transmission group. The two market leaders in France and Germany will be joining forces in a merger of equals and constitute a new group based on two strong pillars in these two countries. The TDF group already has an operational presence in 7 European countries. It will now reach a new European dimension with Media&Broadcast’s leading position in the German market.
Media&Broadcast, the leading TV and radio transmission company in Germany, posted 2006 revenues of €526 million. It is a highly innovative company, building and operating analogue and digital broadcasting networks including DVB-T, DAB, DMB and DVB-H networks. It also offers satellite, contribution and multi-media services. Media&Broadcast owns numerous TV and radio frequencies in Germany and holds the recently awarded DVB-H national mobile TV “frequency” license. It is also a pioneer in the development of digital cinema in Europe.
Pro forma, consolidated revenues of the TDF group will now amount to €1.6 billion (2007 estimate), backed by over 5000 employees in 8 European countries.
The merger of TDF and Media&Broadcast also represents an opportunity for the emergence of a strong digital market in Europe. Both France and Germany just adopted DVB-H as the main future standard for broadcast Mobile TV, opening the way for a parallel roll out of the service in the two countries with standardized handsets and applications. The merger of the two leading broadcast network operators will also foster the choice of a European standard for digital radio. In addition, the combination of TDF and Media&Broacast will help promote the roll-out of digital cinema in Europe.
About TDF
TDF Group is a leading terrestrial broadcast service operator in Europe, with a presence in France, Finland, Hungary, Spain, the Netherlands, Estonia and Poland. It offers a broad range of services to radio and TV broadcasters and telecoms operators.
In radio and TV, TDF is present throughout the value chain including capture and processing of content, contribution, play out, distribution, analogue and digital terrestrial transmission of radio and TV programs (including in HD and mobile TV). In telecoms, TDF rolls out networks, hosts the equipment of operators on its 7 800 sites in Europe, and performs maintenance. As a local loop network radio operator, TDF markets broadband services to internet service providers. As a key player in audiovisual/telecommunications convergence, TDF assists its customers in the digital world.
Source: TDF
