MediaForEurope (MFE) has officially confirmed its intention to increase its stake in German commercial broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 beyond the 30% threshold required to trigger a mandatory buyout offer under German law. The move, long anticipated by the market, represents a significant step in MFE’s strategy to build a pan-European media group capable of competing with global streaming giants.
According to an analysis by Ampere, one of the immediate benefits for MFE would be the additional advertising revenues generated by ProSiebenSat.1 in the German market. Ampere forecasts that, following the acquisition, the combined TV advertising revenue of MFE could reach €3.6 billion in 2025 — equivalent to nearly 25% of the total TV advertising market across Europe’s ‘Big 5’ territories.
While ProSiebenSat.1 has provisionally accepted the offer, the deal still requires regulatory approval from Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). If completed, the acquisition would significantly expand MFE’s presence beyond its core markets of Italy and Spain, reinforcing its ambition to create a unified European media group.
Ampere’s report also highlights that the potential merger would boost digital revenues for MFE. In 2024, the combined VoD and FAST revenue of both groups reached €162 million, placing them on par with Netflix’s advertising revenue in the region. This consolidation of revenues is expected to play a crucial role in MFE’s strategy to stay competitive in an evolving media landscape dominated by global players.
Beyond the financial impact, the acquisition would also strengthen MFE’s negotiating position with US studios and international content distributors. This increased scale could help MFE secure more valuable content to complement its European originals, enhancing its content offering and audience appeal across its platforms.
As the international broadcast industry faces mounting challenges, Ampere’s analysis suggests that consolidation among regional players like MFE and ProSiebenSat.1 is becoming essential for survival and growth. The deal would not only provide greater financial stability but also reinforce MFE’s strategy to defend and strengthen the European broadcast market against intensifying competition from global streaming platforms.
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