Disney buys German FTA net

The Walt Disney Company is acquiring German commercial channel Das Vierte.

Local reports surfaced this week that the Mouse House’s German operation was close to acquiring the free-to-air channel, which first launched in 2005.

Disney today confirmed the deal and will pay an undisclosed amount to the channel’s owner, Russian media executive and Ren TV founder Dmitri Lesnevsky.

“The Walt Disney Company has signed an agreement to purchase the German broadcast channel Das Vierte, providing Disney with a number of options to expand its broadcast capabilities in Germany. The company is proceeding with the customary clearances,” the Mouse House said in a statement. Further details will follow.

Lesnevsky acquired the channel from NBCUniversal through his Mini Movie International Channel imprint in 2008.

Should the deal go ahead, the channel would add to Disney’s presence in the German TV market, which currently comprises a 50% stake in kids’ channel Super RTL, a stake in free-to-air net RTL2 and pay-TV nets Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD and Disney Cinemagic.

Das Vierte has a small market share of about 0.2%, according to ratings website Quotenmeter.