Mediaset Eyes Endemol Again

MILAN, February 16: Mediaset’s deputy chairman, Piersilvio
Berlusconi, has said that the Italian media giant is interested in acquiring
Endemol, “but the price remains a fundamental variable,” he told the Corriere
della Sera newspaper.

Berlusconi noted that the purchase of Endemol would be an
“industrial fit,” for Mediaset. He also said that owning Endemol would expand
Mediaset’s global reach. "We are in two countries, Italy and Spain, they
are present in 22 markets.”

John de Mol confirmed in September that Mediaset had
approached him about a joint bid for the 75-percent stake in Endemol being sold
by Telefónica. The format giant is said to have a market value of about 2.6
billion euros.

In the interview, Berlusconi also discussed Mediaset’s
ambitions to offer broadband and mobile phone services, as well as pay-per-view
services.