Deals
Telia Faces Extended EU Probe Into Bid for Bonnier TV Operations
- EU sets Sept. 19 deadline to decide on nordic TV takeover
- EU concerned Finnish and Swedish viewers may have less choice
Telia Co. faces an extended European Union investigation into its 9.2 billion-krona ($960 million) bid for Bonnier AB’s television operations over concerns the deal may reduce choice and increase prices for TV services in Finland and Sweden.
The European Commission set a Sept. 19 deadline to rule on the deal, saying its initial investigation showed Bonnier may be able to shut off its channels from rival TV platforms. The merged firm could also deny access to TV ad space to Telia rivals and could deny access to streaming apps to customers using competition Internet and mobile providers. Bonnier’s channels are "very important" for TV distributors to offer, the EU said.