Communication
The aim of the protection of market competition is primarily to create benefits for consumers and equal conditions for all entrepreneurs on the market, who, acting in accordance with the existing rules and competing on the market with the quality, price and innovation of their products and services, contribute to the overall development of the economy.
CME Media and RTL Hrvatska merger approved
In its compatibility assessment procedure, the CCA found that the concentration in question does not produce significant effect on competition, given the fact that it does not create or strengthen a dominant position of the undertakings concerned in the market. In the compatibility assessment procedure, the CCA particularly investigated its effects in the TV advertising market.
The notified merger involves a business transaction in which the direct controlling interest over the undertaking RTL Hrvatska is acquired by the undertaking CME Media on a permanent basis. By this horizontal merger in the media sector, where CME has not been present in the relevant markets in the territory of the Republic of Croatia, CME will take over the position of RTL stepping into the shoes of the merged entity and bringing about no changes in the market structure.
Given that the concentration concerned covers the media sector where electronic media rules apply, the CCA decided on the compatibility of the concentration at issue after having consulted the Electronic Media Agency that provided its opinion on 28 April 2022 stating that the implementation of this concentration does not contravene with the provisions of the Electronic Media Act.
In accordance with the data and documentation received in the notification of the concentration concerned the CCA found that it will produce effects in the following markets: the wholesale distribution of TV channels, the retail distribution of TV channels, the acquisition and use of audiovisual content, TV advertising, on-line advertising (electronic publications) market and online publishing market (internet portals), all in the territory of the Republic of Croatia.