Telecable buy gives Televisa substantial power in 63 markets

Mexican media group Televisa has substantial power in 63 regional markets following its acquisition of Telecable, according to a preliminary ruling from the country’s telecoms regulator IFT. Televisa did not require approval from the IFT when it bought Telecable earlier this year but the acquisition gave Televisa a market share of well over 80 percent in the regions in question. Specifically, the regulator said Televisa is now dominant in the provision of audio and pay TV, fixed telephony, fixed broadband, dedicated links, fixed line interconnection as well as advertising provision.

Televisa, the world's biggest provider of Spanish-language TV content, was last year declared dominant in the free-to-air TV market, and was ordered to follow stricter rules than its competitors with a view to ensuring competition. In April, the IFT also ruled that the acquisition of triple play operator Cablecom gave Televisa substantial power in 99 localities in the pay TV market.