European Commission approves Liberty’s Ziggo acquisition
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European Commission approves Liberty’s Ziggo acquisition

The European Commission has today approved Liberty Global’s acquisition of Dutch cable provider Ziggo, on the condition that the London-based player amends ruling it has on broadcaster freedom.

The Commission said that Liberty Global must remove the limits it has on broadcasters’ freedom to offer programmes on the internet, which the company appears to have complied with.

Liberty Global offered to sell Film1, its premium Pay TV film channel,” the European Commission said it a statement.

“Liberty Global also committed to terminate clauses in channel carriage agreements that limit broadcasters’ ability to offer their channels and content over the internet."

Liberty Global has agreed to this for eight years as OTT players delivering programmes online are reducing the popularity of live TV viewing.

The deal to acquire Ziggo is valued at approximately €10 billion, and the EU extended investigations into the agreement in May this year on the basis that it may reduce competition in the Netherlands and result in higher consumer prices.

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