German Court Blocks Proposed ProSieben-RTL Online TV Service

DÜESSELDORF: The Higher Regional Court of Düesseldorf has ruled against ProSiebenSat.1 and RTL’s plan to launch an online video platform, upholding a previous verdict by the German antitrust authority.

The Federal Cartel Office ruled in March 2011 against the two companies jointly launching an online video platform, saying that the new venture would have strengthened the "duopoly" in the TV advertising sector. The broadcasters did appeal the decision, but the new ruling agrees that the platform would strengthen their market-leading position.