Liberty, Ziggo set for EC okay

US cable giant Liberty Global is reportedly close to winning European Commission approval to buy Dutch cable operator Ziggo for US$13.7bn and merge it with UPC.

The Commission will decide on November 3 if the deal, first announced by Liberty back in January, will receive its approval. That will be subject to Liberty selling its Film 1 premium channel to avoid competition issues, according to Bloomberg.

Other conditions include a promise to maintain access for OTT operators and a pledge not to discriminate against rivals that buy its content, according to the report.

Liberty has already named Baptiest Coopmans, currently MD of Liberty Global-owned Dutch cable platform UPC Netherland, as CEO replacing  René Obermann, who is due to step down in September ahead of the takeover.

At an extraordinary general meeting of Ziggo shareholders earlier this week, all resolutions on the agenda were approved including the transfer of the company’s assets to an affiliate of Liberty Global and the subsequent liquidation of Ziggo.

Last month, Liberty acquired satcaster BSkyB’s 6.4% stake in UK commercial terrestrial broadcaster ITV for £481m (US$824m).