STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Mediaset rise on pay-TV deal talk
Shares in Italian broadcaster Mediaset (Other OTC: MDIUY - news) rise more than 2.5 percent, leading Milan blue chip gainers, on mounting speculation about a possible sale of a stake in its pay-TV business to an industrial partner.
Mediaset confirmed on Saturday (Shenzhen: 002291.SZ - news) it had received expressions of interest from foreign players for its pay-TV business - though it gave no names - as media speculation grows a tie-up could be on the horizon.
"The entrance of new partners ... would certainty be positive in the light of the very high investments for soccer rights," analysts at Icbpi say in a note.
Mediaset denied on Thursday it had sealed any deal after a press report said Qatari-owned Al Jazeera and Vivendi (TLO: VIV.TI - news) 's Canal+ had reached an agreement to take a stake in its Italian pay-TV unit Mediaset Premium.
Reuters messaging rm://claudia.cristoferi.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net
rm://danilo.masoni.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net