BRUSSELS/BERLIN, March 27 (Reuters) - European broadcaster RTL is set to offer remedies to address EU antitrust concerns in the coming days in a move likely to help it secure early regulatory approval
Exclusive-RTL to offer remedies, likely to win early EU approval for Sky Deutschland bid, sources say
RTL's Acquisition of Sky Deutschland and Antitrust Remedies
By Foo Yun Chee and Klaus Lauer
Overview of the Acquisition
BRUSSELS/BERLIN, March 27 (Reuters) - European broadcaster RTL is set to offer remedies in the coming days to address EU antitrust concerns over its acquisition of Sky Deutschland, in a move likely to help it secure early regulatory approval for the deal, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said.
The acquisition will combine two of Europe's strongest media offerings in sport and entertainment in a battle to catch up with U.S. heavyweights Netflix, Disney and Amazon Prime in Germany.
Strategic Benefits of the Deal
The purchase would give RTL, which is majority-owned by German media group Bertelsmann, local access to Sky's premium sports rights including Bundesliga and Premier League soccer, and Formula 1 motor racing, as well as Sky's WOW streaming service.
Regulatory Remedies and Approval Process
Potential Remedies to Address Antitrust Concerns
RTL could table remedies to the European Commission as early as Friday, two of the three sources said. They said a possible remedy is outsourcing advertising sales to third parties, an area on which antitrust regulators usually focus.
Impact on Regulatory Timeline
That would automatically extend the Commission's preliminary review deadline of April 8 by 10 working days. RTL will likely win EU approval at the end of this preliminary scrutiny, the people said.
Responses from the European Commission and RTL
The Commission, which acts as the EU competition enforcer, declined to comment.
RTL said it does not comment on ongoing proceedings.
"We are working constructively with the European Commission and are confident that the acquisition of Sky Deutschland (DACH) will be approved and closed in the first half of 2026," the group said in an email.
Background on Sky Deutschland
Comcast-owned Sky Deutschland operates in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee in Brussels and Klaus Lauer in Berlin; Editing by Louise Heavens and Susan Fenton)
