The Berlusconi media empire is watching Poland. Will he join the game for TVN?

The Italian media group MFE-MediaForEurope, controlled by the Berlusconi family, is monitoring the possibility of purchasing assets in the Netherlands, Portugal and Poland. This information is gaining importance in the context of the potential sale of TVN, which has been closely watched by the media market for several months. The MFE Group, which has already secured a loan of EUR 3.4 billion, announces that it wants to play a key role in building a European media giant.

Berlusconi’s empire

Although Silvio Berlusconi, former Prime Minister of Italy and creator of the media empire, died in 2023, his legacy continues through his children. MFE, currently led by Pier Silvio Berlusconi, has long expanded beyond the Italian market. The group owns television channels in Spain and shares in the German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1. The media conglomerate’s ambitions include further expansion, and strategic moves suggest that Poland may be the next point on their map.

In recent months, there have been speculations about the possible sale of TVN by Warner Bros. Discovery. According to media reports, potential buyers may be investment funds associated with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán or Hungarian television stations. The Czech PPF group, known for its previous acquisitions on the markets of Central and Eastern Europe, is also mentioned among the interested parties.

However, the Polish government, headed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, announced actions aimed at protecting key media entities. The planned regulation assumes that TVN and Polsat will be included in the list of strategic companies. This step means that any possible sale of these companies would require government consent.

Berlusconi’s ambitions and the media market in Europe

MFE-MediaForEurope has long been striving to create a large European broadcaster that could compete with media giants from the USA or Asia. Recent moves, including securing a loan worth EUR 3.4 billion, show that the group is well prepared financially to implement its plans. Monitoring of markets in the Netherlands, Portugal and Poland indicates their interest in markets that offer great growth potential and strategic importance in Europe.

Poland, being one of the largest media markets in the region, attracts the attention of global players. TVN, as one of the leaders of the television market in Poland, is a key asset whose sale may affect the balance of power in the European media sector.

Will the Italian MFE decide to actively enter Poland? The answer to this question may define the future of the media market in the region for many years.