All entries in the Media sector, newest first. tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:en:en/sectors/media 2026-10-27T06:00:00Z Eurotrack tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:cd2d45a9:en 2026-10-27T06:00:00Z

The Catalan educational publisher Vicens Vives, owned by the Sanoma group for six months, has announced a collective redundancy procedure (ERE) for 122 of its 250 employees and plans to close its printing arm Gráficas Instar. Industry sources expect a second ERE for Instar's 21 employees, who are not included in the figure; talks with employee representatives begin in the coming days (La Vanguardia, 27 Oct 2026). — Source: https://www.lavanguardia.com/dinero/20261027/11669106/vicens-vives-ere-empleo-despidos-graficas-instar-cierre.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:07581d14:en 2026-10-23T06:00:00Z

The new owners of the Daily Telegraph, part of Axel Springer since June, have made staff redundant and announced a shift to an AI-powered global media and intelligence business. Newsroom insiders expect up to 100 job losses, with culture and sport hit hardest; the company has not given an official figure (The Guardian, 23 Oct 2026). — Source: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/oct/23/telegraph-job-cuts-axel-springer-owner-promises-turn-paper-ai-powered-global-business

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:8f0ffb73:en 2026-10-09T06:00:00Z

Bonnier Books Danmark has agreed to buy Copenhagen-based publisher Jentas Books, founded in 1999 and focused on commercial fiction such as crime and thrillers and on digital publishing, above all audiobooks and e-books. The parties keep the price confidential; the deal is meant to strengthen its position in the Danish book market and cooperation across the Nordics (Bonnier Books, press release, 9 Oct 2026). — Source: https://news.cision.com/se/bonnier-books/r/bonnier-books-danmark-forvarvar-jentas-books,c4404791

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:c0e76822:en 2026-10-05T06:00:00Z

Media group Tamedia is cutting 34 full-time positions in its news desks in Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lausanne and Geneva, 30 of them in the newsrooms and 4 on the print desk; 41 people are affected, 28 in German-speaking and 9 in French-speaking Switzerland. Tamedia cites the shrinking advertising market and the shift of advertising money to international platforms; those affected are to be informed by the end of October 2026, and a consultation is under way in French-speaking Switzerland. Its 2024 pledge not to lay off journalists before the end of September 2026 has thus expired; the earlier round of cuts from January 2026 is listed under id 5a799227 (Nau.ch, 05.10.2026; second source: NZZ, 05.10.2026). — Sources: https://www.nau.ch/news/schweiz/das-medienhaus-tamedia-streicht-34-vollzeitstellen-67184963 · https://www.nzz.ch/feuilleton/tamedia-baut-34-vollzeitstellen-ab-41-mitarbeitende-betroffen-ld.10026803

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:cb269f09:en 2026-09-18T06:00:00Z

Advertising platform Taboola made an offer on 18.09.2026 for London-based ad network Dianomi, which places ads for finance and business brands on premium news sites. About 64 pence per share is payable up front (roughly £19m); a performance-linked earn-out of up to 24 pence per share could lift the total value to £27m. Dianomi is to be folded into Taboola's Realize advertising platform; regulatory approvals are still required (MediaPost, 18.09.2026). — Source: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/418116/taboola-to-acquire-ad-tech-company-targeting-afflu.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:20991489:en 2026-09-17T06:00:00Z

European entertainment-metadata provider Media Press Group completed on 17 September 2026 the acquisition of the electronic programme guide (EPG) and content-discovery business of InfoPortugal, a company of the Impresa group, becoming by its own account the largest TV metadata provider in Portugal. The price was not disclosed; the move follows the purchase of Spanish provider MediaData TV and is part of the group's expansion in the Iberian Peninsula and Portuguese-speaking markets (Jornal Económico, 17 September 2026). — Source: https://jornaleconomico.sapo.pt/noticias/media-press-group-adquire-negocio-de-epg-da-infoportugal-e-torna-se-lider-em-portugal/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:7850ef6e:en 2026-09-17T06:00:00Z

On 17 September 2026 RTL CEO Stephan Schmitter told staff in an internal business update that around 500 positions will be cut by the end of 2027, more than 250 of them already in 2026, with Cologne and Unterföhring affected roughly equally. The background is the integration following completion of the Sky Deutschland takeover on 1 June 2026 (removing duplicate structures; target: €250m in annual synergies within three years). This is an additional round on top of the 'Shift 2026' programme of more than 600 positions (entry 148fad5c), some 1,100 jobs in total (t-online, 17 Sep 2026). — Source: https://www.t-online.de/finanzen/aktuelles/wirtschaft/id_101440228/rtl-und-sky-streichen-erneut-hunderte-stellen.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:38e6a4f1:en 2026-09-16T06:00:00Z

Publisher Reach (Daily Mirror, Daily Express and regional titles such as the Manchester Evening News) plans to cut about 220 full-time editorial posts in the UK and Ireland while creating roughly 60 new roles in video and subscriptions, a net loss of around 160. The AberdeenLive, KentLive and GalwayBeo (Ireland) sites will close; Reach attributes the move to falling traffic caused by AI overviews and Google algorithm changes. The journalists' union NUJ strongly criticised the cuts (TheJournal.ie, 16.09.2026). — Source: https://www.thejournal.ie/galwaybeo-layoffs-7164491-Sep2026/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:83bae280:en 2026-09-16T06:00:00Z

Czech public broadcaster Česká televize plans to shed about 12% of its roughly 2,900 staff, close to 350 posts, between this year and 2030; Director-General Hynek Chudárek gave the figure at the television council on 16.09.2026. The cuts respond to the government's planned switch from licence fees to funding from the state budget and a CZK 350m savings target for 2027; the budget for new programmes falls to CZK 2.2bn (E15/ČTK, 16.09.2026). — Source: https://www.e15.cz/byznys/technologie-a-media/velke-skrty-na-kavcich-horach-ct-propusti-350-lidi-a-na-vyrobu-poradu-da-o-ctvrtinu-mene-1435829

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:3128daa6:en 2026-09-09T06:00:00Z

Publicly owned, advertising-funded British broadcaster Channel 4 announced on 9 September 2026 that it will cut 340 jobs by the end of 2026 — about 28% of its roughly 1,270-strong workforce and the deepest cut in the broadcaster's 43-year history. CEO Priya Dogra cited reducing management layers and duplication; a formal consultation process is beginning (Deadline, 9 September 2026). — Source: https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshire/news/2159881-channel-4-confirms-it-will-shed-340-jobs-by-end-of-2026

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:3748b7f2:en 2026-07-27T06:00:00Z

The Zwickau printing plant of the Westermann group will stop production, expected by 31 August 2026, affecting 170 jobs. Staff were informed on the afternoon of 27 July 2026. The company cites persistently difficult market conditions in Germany, falling demand for printed products and comparatively high production costs at the site. Single-source report (Freie Presse). — Source: https://www.freiepresse.de/zwickau/zwickau/170-arbeitsplaetze-betroffen-westermann-druckerei-in-zwickau-schliesst-artikel14348784

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:e2a1949b:en 2026-07-22T06:00:00Z

On 22 July 2026 the European Commission granted conditional clearance for Paramount Skydance's takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery: Paramount must divest its EEA stake in the theatrical distribution joint venture United International Pictures (with Universal) within 13 months and may not enter new distribution agreements with Universal for ten years; the Commission found sufficient competition in production and streaming. The deal also covers European TV assets such as Warner's Polish TVN Group. Background: Paramount prevailed after nine offers in a bidding war — Netflix's $83bn acquisition agreed in December 2025 collapsed after the WBD board deemed Paramount's cash offer superior on 26 February 2026 and Netflix withdrew; WBD shareholders approved in April and US antitrust clearance (DOJ) followed in May. Still open are, among other things, a lawsuit by 12 US states (hearing 3 August); from 30 September a 'ticking fee' of around $7m per day applies. Second source: Reuters/US News. Update (24 July 2026): Paramount and the twelve suing US states agreed to cancel the preliminary-injunction hearing scheduled for 3 August. In exchange Paramount is suspending completion of the acquisition until June 2027 — or five days after a ruling, whichever comes first. A joint statement on the timetable for the main proceedings is due by 31 July; Paramount is pushing for a November 2026 trial date, while the states had proposed April 2027. The closing horizon therefore effectively moves into 2027. Update (4 August 2026): Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín (U.S. District Court, Northern District of California) set the trial date in the antitrust case — neither Paramount's preferred November 2026 nor the plaintiffs' proposed April 2027: the trial starts on 2 March 2027 and is scheduled for twelve court days ending no later than 19 March 2027, with written closing briefs due by 5 April 2027. The suit by twelve US states is led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Update (6 Aug 2026): The UK Competition and Markets Authority cleared the acquisition unconditionally, and the UK government (DCMS) declined to issue a public interest intervention notice. That removes one of the last major regulatory hurdles — the parties report clearances in 66 further jurisdictions. The US antitrust case brought by twelve states (trial starting 2 March 2027) is unaffected. Update (21 Sept 2026): The twelve plaintiff US states led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta reached a settlement with Paramount and are dropping their antitrust lawsuit; the Writers Guild also settled its suit. Paramount commits, among other things, to 30 theatrical films a year and an independent editorial board for CBS News and CNN (within 180 days of closing). WBD CEO David Zaslav expects the deal to close no later than early October 2026; the trial scheduled for March 2027 is thus off (CNN, 21 Sept 2026: https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/21/media/paramount-wbd-settlement-cnn-ellison-bonta-lawsuit). Update (30 Sep 2026): A California federal judge formally approved the settlement with the states, removing the last hurdle; according to a joint statement the takeover is expected to close on 6 October 2026, with Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz joining as co-CEO alongside David Ellison from 5 October (NBC News, 30 Sep 2026). Update (06.10.2026): Paramount has completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery; WBD shareholders receive about $31.02 per share in cash. The combined group is named Skydance Corporation, trades on the NYSE under the ticker SKYD and is targeting annual run-rate synergies of more than $6bn within three years (Paramount, press release filed with the SEC, 06.10.2026). Update (06.10.2026): Poland's Ministry of State Assets has opened an administrative procedure after closing to examine whether Paramount Skydance's indirect control of broadcaster TVN threatens public order or security; TVN has been on the list of state-protected companies since December 2024. The authority has 90 days from receipt of the notification; at worst it can bar the exercise of voting rights, and an order to sell the shares is also on the table (Rzeczpospolita, 06.10.2026; Bankier.pl, 06.10.2026). — Sources: https://www.clickorlando.com/business/2026/07/22/european-union-gives-its-greenlight-to-paramount-and-warners-mega-merger-with-some-conditions/ · https://www.nbcnews.com/business/media/judge-allows-paramount-close-110-billion-takeover-warner-bros-discover-rcna600780 · https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0002041610/000110465926113913/tm2626659d7_ex99-1.htm · https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art45262541-rzad-przeswietli-przejecie-tvn-przez-paramount-skydance-w-grze-nakaz-sprzedazy-akcji · https://www.bankier.pl/wiadomosc/Minister-Aktywow-Panstwowych-zajmie-sie-przejeciem-TVN-przez-grupe-Paramount-Skydance-9208480.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:3e8bec9b:en 2026-07-14T06:00:00Z

Media reports: According to a Reuters exclusive on 14 July, Hollywood studio Lionsgate (Hunger Games, John Wick) is exploring a sale and has engaged an investment bank; Bolloré (Canal+) and Banijay were initially named as suitors. Variety reports that Banijay and France's Mediawan group are weighing bids, while Bolloré is not bidding. Lionsgate shares jumped about 9% after hours; a deal remains uncertain. UPDATE (29 July 2026): Banijay chief executive François Riahi publicly ruled out a bid for Lionsgate, saying the group is focused on integrating recent acquisitions and cutting its debt of more than €5bn. Of the suitors originally named, only Mediawan therefore remains in the running. — Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/lionsgate-studios-takeover-banijay-mediawan-1236811632/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:21c54b53:en 2026-07-06T06:00:00Z

Sky is acquiring ITV's broadcasting and streaming business (including ITVX); ITV Studios is not part of the deal. In return, Sky is selling Love Productions to ITV for GBP 200 million. Subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals; the aim is to create the UK's largest commercial broadcaster. Update (23 July 2026): The UK Competition and Markets Authority published an invitation to comment on the transaction — the first formal procedural step. The CMA explicitly stresses that this does not yet open a formal Phase 1 investigation. The comment period closes on 6 August 2026. — Source: https://www.euronews.com/business/2026/07/06/sky-agrees-to-buy-british-broadcaster-itv-for-up-to-16-billion

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:5bcf7c80:en 2026-07-06T06:00:00Z

The TV channel GB News plans to cut up to 90 jobs, around a third of its roughly 260 employees; editorial, technical and HR staff are affected. The cuts are attributed to automated workflows, and prominent presenters are exempt. Reportedly according to Press Gazette/Sunday Times. — Source: https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/journalism-job-cuts-in-2026-updates/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:79ae0f6f:en 2026-06-01T06:00:00Z

Completion of the takeover announced in June 2025: Following unconditional EU approval on 22 April 2026, the acquisition was completed on 1 June 2026. This creates a provider with around 12.3 million paying subscribers (RTL, RTL+, Sky, WOW). — Source: https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2026/06/01/rtl-group-closes-acquisition-of-sky-deutschland/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:15d68f5c:en 2026-04-15T06:00:00Z

The public broadcaster plans to cut up to 2,000 of 21,500 jobs, the largest cuts in over a decade. The goal is savings of £500 mn over two years, initially via a voluntary programme. — Source: https://deadline.com/2026/04/bbc-plans-2000-layoffs-1236861376/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:33845c8e:en 2026-01-30T06:00:00Z

The Washington Post plans massive layoffs that could affect more than 100 employees. The Sports, Arts, Metro and Foreign desks are particularly affected. White House reporters have written an open letter to owner Jeff Bezos (hashtag #SaveThePost) to protest against the planned cuts. The Washington Post's financial situation has deteriorated in recent years due to strategic decisions under Bezos' leadership; attempts to steer the paper in a more conservative direction led to a decline in subscriber numbers and a loss of trust within editorial teams. Update (4 February 2026): The Washington Post laid off about a third of its staff on 4 February 2026, far more than the roughly 100 jobs first reported; the sports and books sections were closed, and the paper gave no absolute figure. (ABC7/AP, 4 February 2026) — Sources: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/washington-post-jeff-bezos-layoffs-b2910466.html · https://abc7news.com/post/washington-post-cuts-third-staff-blow-legendary-news-brand/18541922/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:5a799227:en 2026-01-27T06:00:00Z

Tamedia is cutting a further 25-30 full-time jobs. As of 1 March 2026, the print and digital businesses will be organisationally separated and run in their own divisions. Staff cuts will primarily be in the commercial areas of German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland. Journalist and editorial jobs are not affected (employment guarantee until September 2026). AI applications will be increasingly integrated into editorial and operational processes. A new 'AI & Data' unit will be led by Nadia Kohler. The Syndicom union criticises the announcement as an 'empty promise' (originally a two-year hiring freeze on layoffs was promised from November 2024). — Source: https://www.watson.ch/schweiz/medien/805127346-tamedia-kuendigt-weiteren-stellenabbau-an-bis-30-stellen-betroffen

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:1aba78bf:en 2025-12-05T06:00:00Z

Netflix is acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery for just under $83 bn (including debt). The deal combines extensive content libraries (e.g. Game of Thrones, DC, Harry Potter) and strengthens Netflix's position in the global streaming market. Completion is expected in the 3rd quarter of 2026. Antitrust concerns in the USA and Europe are to be expected; possible effects on cinema releases and competition authorities are being monitored. Follow-up: On 26 February 2026 Netflix withdrew from the bidding war after the WBD board deemed Paramount Skydance's increased cash offer ($31 per share) superior (source: CNBC, 26 Feb 2026, https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/26/warner-bros-discovery-paramount-skydance-deal-superior-netflix.html). Paramount's takeover was approved by WBD shareholders in April 2026 and cleared with conditions by the European Commission on 22 July 2026 (see separate entry). — Source: https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/netflix-warner-uebernahme-streaming-100.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:148fad5c:en 2025-12-02T06:00:00Z

RTL Deutschland plans to cut around 600 jobs due to declining advertising revenue and the transformation towards streaming. The restructuring is to be carried out in a socially responsible manner (partial early retirement, severance payments, support offers). RTL+ is being expanded (more than 6.6 mn subscribers). The DJV criticises the measure. — Source: https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/rtl-streicht-stellen-100.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:8b0d7ef2:en 2025-11-24T06:00:00Z

As part of the 'Enavant' savings programme, the SRG is cutting around 900 full-time positions by 2029 in order to save CHF 270 mn; around 300 jobs are already under way, with the rest occurring through attrition, retirements and dismissals. — Source: https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/sparmassnahmen-srg-streicht-900-vollzeitstellen-bis-2029

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:30bf763f:en 2025-11-20T06:00:00Z

First Camp is acquiring the camping operations of Lodgyslife in Germany and Switzerland, thereby significantly expanding its presence in the DACH region. Update (28.11.2025): Lodgyslife reported that the strategic partnership with First Camp has closed; the Birkensee campsite near Hanover was also added as the first site in northern Germany (Lodgyslife via pressetext, 28.11.2025). — Source: https://news.cision.com/first-camp-group-ab/r/first-camp-makes-landmark-acquisition-in-germany-and-switzerland---creating-the-leading-camping-and-,c4269964

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:8504e904:en 2025-11-17T06:00:00Z

The international firm Ashurst and the US firm Perkins Coie have agreed on a merger to form the entity "Ashurst Perkins Coie". The combined firm, with around 3,000 lawyers worldwide, will be among the 20 highest-grossing firms and is also present in the German market. Update (29 Jun 2026): After partners of both firms approved the deal in April 2026, Ashurst and Perkins Coie announced on 29 Jun 2026 that their combination into Ashurst Perkins Coie had been completed (Líder Legal, 29 Jun 2026). — Sources: https://www.lto.de/recht/kanzleien-unternehmen/k/naechster-zusammenschluss-zweier-grosskanzleien-fusion-ashurst-perkins-coie · https://liderlegal.com/en/perkins-coie-and-ashurst-complete-their-merger-and-create-ashurst-perkins-coie-with-950-partners-and-a-focus-on-technology-energy-and-finance/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:094713ba:en 2025-11-04T06:00:00Z

The parishes of Häggenschwil, Muolen and Wittenbach (St. Gallen) are voting on a merger in November 2025. Update (16.11.2025): Catholic voters in all three parishes clearly approved the merger at the ballot box (Häggenschwil 186:1, Muolen 111:24, Wittenbach 431:21); the new Catholic parish Alte Konstanzerstrasse is due to start in early 2028, with a first joint parish assembly planned for autumn 2026 (stgallen24, 17.11.2025: https://stgallen24.ch/articles/348931-deutliches-ja-zur-fusion-der-kirchgemeinden-haeggenschwil-muolen-und-wittenbach). — Source: https://www.tagblatt.ch/ostschweiz/stgallen/kirchgemeinden-haeggenschwil-muolen-und-wittenbach-stimmen-ueber-fusion-ab-ld.4038976

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:d7cc5d58:en 2025-06-27T06:00:00Z

RTL is acquiring Sky Deutschland from Comcast; €150 million immediate payment plus up to €377 million variable component. Update (01.06.2026): Following unconditional EU clearance, RTL closed the deal on 01.06.2026; after adjustments the upfront cash paid to Comcast came to €68m, with the variable component of up to €377m unchanged (Bertelsmann, 01.06.2026: https://www.bertelsmann.com/en/media/news/rtl-group-closes-acquisition-of-sky-deutschland.html). — Source: https://www.reuters.com/en/european-media-group-rtl-buy-sky-deutschland-2025-06-27/