COLOGNE, Germany (Hollywood Reporter)–Haim Saban’s Saban Capital Group and entertainment giant Viacom are considering acquiring a controlling stake in German music TV group Viva Media, sources said last Wednesday.
Saban and Viacom are believed to be trying to secure a 60% share in Viva by buying up the stakes in the company currently held by Time Warner’s Turner Broadcasting System (30.6%) and Vivendi Universal’s Universal Music Group (15.3%), along with Viva shares controlled by a series of private investment groups.
A takeover deal for Viva would enable Viacom, which owns MTV, to buy out a strong local competitor and gain a near-monopoly on the German music television market.