Powerplay for position of most influential mediatycoon of Europe has started

This is really beginning to look like one of their drama scenario’s; A small circle of influential European mediatycoons are fighting to gain the most influence in the (European) TV World. Berlusconi’s company Mediaset is eying Endemol; is the news according to Southern European journalists. While John de Mol is currently busy building his media company from the Netherlands. And Joop van den Ende has announced to enter the market as of january 2006, when his non-competition agreement with Telefonica is ended, meanwhile their former company Endemol (van den Ende & De Mol) is sought after by Berlusconi. While the Dutch just started to build their imperium, Berlusconi already gained large influence in his home territory; “Mediaset (Berlusconi owned) dominates Italy’s media landscape with private channels Canale 5, Italia 1 and Retequattro, production outfits, digital channels, internet portals and the biggest publishing house, Publitalia. (C21media)” Despite denials the Italian press is holding on to negotiations between Mediaset and Telefonica taking place currently. The spanish have put Endemol in their shoppingwindow as of the beginning this year. “Big Brother company Endemol is the biggest format producer worldwide, with revenues for 2004 at €1.03bn, and an EBITDA of €181m. But Telefonica has already stated that it’s preparing for Endemol’s flotation on the stock market towards the end of 2005 or early 2006. (C21media)” Powerplay with real influence for ‘he who owns the media, owns the minds of people’ (who’s quote was that again?).

C21Media: