MFE-MEDIAFOREUROPE is the holding company of one of the major pan-European broadcasting hubs. Founded in 2021, its registered office is in Amsterdam (the Netherlands) and is tax resident in Italy and Spain, where it has its operational activities. It is listed on the Milan and Madrid stock exchanges.
The story of MFE-MEDIAFOREUROPE has deep roots: it begins in Italy at the end of the 1970s with a local cable TV called Telemilano, set up by a private individual in a new residential complex on the outskirts of Milan.
Two years later, in 1980, it was transformed into Canale 5 and, thanks to regulatory modernisation, it began to broadcast across the country, something that had previously been forbidden by Italian law.
It was a big news for Italian viewers because the only national television broadcaster was Rai, a state-owned entity that ran a television monopoly with three channels.
In order to compete on an equal footing with public service TV, also the new private commercial television broadcaster created a three-channel hub: Canale 5 was joined first by Italia 1 (bought from the publisher Rusconi in 1982) and then by  Retequattro (bought from the Arnoldo Mondadori publishing group in 1984).
This new television hub was called Rti (Reti televisive italiane) and was supported by an exclusive advertising sales company called Publitalia'80 and by two other companies: Videotime, that was responsible for the entire technological and production side, and Elettronica Industriale, which ensured the broadcasting of the television signal through the management of the transmission network.
The control of Rti, Publitalia, Videotime and Elettronica Industriale was then brought together under a single company, Mediaset: and the Mediaset Group was born.

2024

2024

  • 30 April 2024: MFE-MEDIAFOREUROPE ('MFE') welcomes the decisions taken by the shareholders of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE ('P7S1' or 'Company') at the Annual General Meeting ('AGM'). All motions proposed by MFE received a large majority of votes. MFE-MEDIAFOREUROPE ('MFE') calls on the Board to accelerate the disposal of non-core assets in the interests of all shareholders.
  • 4 April 2024: Mediaset renews its commitment to the fight against online piracy: supports the initiatives of the Italian Communications Regulatory Authority (AGCOM) and signs up to the ‘Piracy Shield’ platform, as the owner of rights. This commitment will be implemented through the application of the new anti-piracy legislation, which is particularly relevant in the context of the Coppa Italia. This is why Mediaset, in collaboration with AGCOM, activated the procedure provided for by Law 93/23, which immediately produced tangible and practical results.
  • 8th January 2024: Publitalia '80 consolidates its entire stake in Mediamond. As of 1 January 2024, Mediaset's shareholding in Mediamond increased to 100%, following the sale of the Mondadori Group's shares.
2023

2023

  • 30 October 2023: Mediaset was again awarded the exclusive broadcasting rights for the next three seasons of Coppa Italia matches, until the 2026/2027 season.
  • 23 October 2023: the regrouping of the category "A" and category "B" ordinary shares was implemented, whereby each five Ordinary A Shares will be regrouped into one new Ordinary A Share, keeping the nominal value of each new Ordinary A Share at the pre-grouping amount, i.e. €0.06; each five Ordinary B Shares will be regrouped into one new Ordinary B Share, with the nominal value of each new Ordinary B Share remaining at the pre-grouping amount, i.e. €0.60.
  • 17 October 2023: a second ruling against the “Vimeo” portal for the unlawful publication of copyrighted Mediaset TV programmes was upheld on appeal.
  • 4 July 2023: Mediaset won the rights to broadcast all the races of the 37th Americas Cup, which will also feature Italy’s Luna Rossa, free-to-air on Italia Uno and Canale 20.
  • 19th May 2023: MFE-MEDIAFOREUROPE rounds up its stake in ProSiebenSat.1.
    Its share, consisting of securities held and insured, is therefore rounded to 28.87% of the share capital (29.70% of the current voting rights excluding treasury shares).
    Specifically, 26.58% of the share capital (27.34% of current voting rights) is directly owned and 2.29% of the share capital (2.35% of current voting rights) is secured by financial instruments.
  • 3 May 2023: the cross-border merger by incorporation of Mediaset España Comunicación, S.A. ("MES"), as the incorporated company, into MFE-MEDIAFOREUROPE N.V. ("MFE") as the incorporating company, became effective.
2022

2022

  • 2 November 2022: MFE - MEDIAFOREUROPE secured an additional stake of up to 4.0% of the share capital of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE. Following this operation, MFE- MEDIAFOREUROPE holds up to 29.0% of the share capital and up to 29.9% of the voting rights of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE (excluding treasury shares).
  • 14 July 2022: a voluntary public purchase and exchange offer ("OPAS") was finalised regarding all of the minority shares of the subsidiary Mediaset España Comunicación SA ("MES") following the authorisation on 26 May 2022 of the Spanish financial markets authority ("CNMV"). As a result of this operation, MFE's controlling interest in the MES rose from 55.69% to 82.92%. (Events subsequent to 31 December 2022: on 30 January 2023 the Boards of MFE and MES approved a draft project for the cross-border merger by incorporation of MES into MFE)
  • 5 May 2022: the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders of ProsiebenSat.1 Media SE approved the distribution of an ordinary dividend for the 2021 financial year of €0.8 per share, generating financial income for the Group of a total amount of €42.3 million.
  • 17 January 2022: the new thematic channel Twenty Seven thematic channel, dedicated to films, international TV series and US blockbusters, began broadcasting in Italy.
2021

2021

  • 13 December 2021 MFE A and MFE B shares are listed on the Euronext Milan Stock Exchange (EXM).
  • 25 November 2021 An Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting approves the change of the Company’s name to MFE-MEDIAFOREUROPE N.V. and the introduction of a dual category share structure. The share capital will be made up of ordinary A shares and ordinary B shares.
  • 20 September 2021 The transfer of Mediaset’s registered office to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, and the adoption of the new statute compliant with Dutch law approved by the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting of 23 June has been formalised. The company will take the name of Mediaset N.V.
  • 22 July 2021 The closing of the global agreement signed on 3 May 2021 between Fininvest, Mediaset and Vivendi to put an end to all disputes, when the parties reciprocally abandoned all pending lawsuits and complaints.
  • 21 July 2021 Mediaset pays out an extraordinary dividend of €0.30 per share, in adherence of the resolution of the Shareholders’ Meeting of 23 June.
  • On 1 July, Mediaset secured the rights until 2024 for the football competitions Coppa Italia and Supercoppa. Both competitions will be broadcast free-to-air on the Groupo’s generalist channels and in live streaming on Mediaset Infinity.
  • On 23 June, the Shareholders, having voted to re-confirm the board of directors whose mandate was expiring, approved the transfer of the corporate headquarters of Mediaset to Holland. This will be the base for the Group’s international expansion. Mediaset shares will continue to be traded on the Italian stock exchange and the company’s fiscal base, along with its central administration, will remain in Italy.
  • May also saw the launch of “Mediaset Infinity”, the first pyramid model online service featuring the best of Mediaset programming and a selection of high-quality on-demand content. The “Mediaset Infinity” pyramid has a very large base with great free content form generalist TV that can be seen online, live or on-demand. Plus, with a light subscription, it is possible to access the top of the “Mediaset Infinity” pyramid which features exclusive content of (prime-time TV, films, series and vertical channels) and the best of the UEFA Champions League.
  • On 3 May, Mediaset, Fininvest and Vivendi announced a global agreement to settle an ongoing dispute by reciprocally withdrawing all pending suits and complaints. Vivendi also committed to gradually reducing its stake in Mediaset and to support the company’s international development plans.
  • On 18 February, Mediaset secured the rights until 2024 for the free-to-air broadcasting of the best match in every round of the Champions League, including the final. In addition, Mediaset will broadcast in live paid streaming, for each of the next three seasons, another 104 matches.
2020

2020

  • On October, Mediaset sells the Mediashopping company, active in the sector of multi-channel remote sales, to Ortigia Investimenti in order to follow the plan to sell non-strategic activities.
  • On 5 August, the Board of Mediaset withdraws the MFE MEDIAFOREUROPE cross-border merger project at the end of a long legal dispute. 
  • On 23 April, a new investment by the Mediaset Group secures 24.9% of the voting rights of ProSiebenSat.1 Media, excluding its own shares, becoming the German broadcaster’s main shareholder.
2019

2019

  • On 4 September, the Shareholders of Mediaset Italia and Mediaset España vote in favour of the cross-border merger.
  • On 7 June, the Boards of Directors of Mediaset Italia and Mediaset España approve a merger destined to create a new major international holding company: MFE, Media For Europe.
  • On 30 May, Mediaset announces the purchase of 9.6% of the share capital of ProSiebenSat.1 Media, corresponding to voting rights of up to 9.9%. This friendly entry into the company’s shareholding consolidates the two concerns’ mutually profitable and operational relationship: Mediaset Italia and Mediaset España have long been allies of ProSiebenSat.1 as part of the European Media Alliance (Ema), an agreement that aims to develop economies of scale indispensable for the future of European TV.
2018

2018

  • No longer offering a pay TV service, Mediaset maintains the role of editor of Premium pay TV channels available on every distribution platform.
  • Launch of the new online platform, Mediaset Play. Since 2018, all Mediaset TV content has been accessible free of charge via the web platform Mediaset Play, a single destination that allows viewers to watch programs both live and on demand, both from TV screens and from PCs or mobile devices.
  • Acquisition and exclusive broadcasting of the 2018 World Cup Russia in Italy and Spain. For the first time in Italy, Mediaset is able to offer viewers the chance to watch all the matches live. And above all, free of charge. This has never happened before.
  • Launch of two new free TVs, “Focus” and “20”, which bring the prime-time rating of Mediaset's free themed networks to 7.0%.
2017

2017

  • Mediaset's stake in Mediaset España increases to 51.63% as a result of share buybacks.
  • Publitalia'80 and Publiespaña, together with TF1 (France) and ProsiebenSat1 (Germany), establish AdTech Ventures, which holds a 33% stake in the European Broadcaster Exchange (EBX) joint venture that operates in digital video programmatic advertising campaigns.
  • Mediaset acquires 100% of the free TV channel Retecapri, associated with LCN 20, Retecapri +1 (LCN 120), Retecapri HD (LCN 121).
  • The Mediaset Board of Directors approves the Mediaset 2020 Plan, containing the development guidelines and 2017-2020 economic-financial objectives.
  • Mediaset acquires a 5.5% stake in Studio 71, Europe's leading Multichannel Network - and one of the top five in the world - controlled by the German group ProSiebenSat.1Media. A joint venture, "Studio 71 Italia" is also set up, of which Mediaset has a 49% stake and through which the entire Italian business of Studio 71 is managed.
2016

2016

Mediaset and the French group Vivendi sign a binding contract for a strategic alliance through which Mediaset becomes the owner of 3.5% of the share capital of Vivendi while the latter acquires 100% of Mediaset Premium and 3.5% of the capital of Mediaset.
On the eve of the closing (25 July 2016) Vivendi announces its intention not to respect the commitments undertaken. Also in 2016, Mediaset creates Italy's leading group of radio stations in terms of both ratings and advertising.
The new company is named "RadioMediaset" and brings together the commercial radio stations  R101, Radio 105 and Virgin Radio and a partnership with Radio MonteCarlo.
2013

2013

The Mediaset Group launches Infinity, Italy's first OTT service, offering subscribers streaming access to a catalogue of more than 6,000 titles including films, TV series, TV drama and TV shows.
2011

2011

  • TgCom24 becomes an unencrypted all-news channel, live on channel 51 of the digital terrestrial platform, on channel 24 of the satellite platform and continues to operate online on the TgCom24.it site, on smartphones and tablets thanks to free downloadable apps.
  • Cartoonito is launched, a free digital terrestrial network for pre-school children (up to 6 years old). Cartoonito, like Boing, is the result of a joint venture between Mediaset and Turner Broadcasting System Europe Limited, and expands the Mediaset free offer for children and teenagers.
  • Mediaset Italia 2 begins broadcasting, the new free digital terrestrial network offers TV series, films, documentaries, cartoons, sports and entertainment selected for a young, mainly male audience.
2010

2010

  • Launch of La5, a new free-to-air channel with content aimed mainly at the female audience, and Mediaset Extra, a free thematic channel offering the chance to watch again the best of Mediaset channel’s entertainment programmes from the present and the past.
  • The creation of the news hub NewsMediaset: an authentic internal news agency providing images, news and services to all of Mediaset’s news and current affairs outlets.
  • The online debut of www.video.mediaset.it, a TV catch up service that enables viewers to watch again, on demand, the Mediaset programmes broadcast in the previous days.
2009

2009

In Spain, Mediaset SpA., Gestevision Telecinco SA and Promotora de Informaciones SA (Prisa Group) announce the acquisition by Telecinco of a newly established company, which includes the business unit of Cuatro (a Spanish free-to-air television network owned by Sogecable SA,) and a 22% stake in Digital Plus. These operations make the Mediaset Group's the leading commercial television operator in Spain.
2008

2008

An agreement is signed for the acquisition of Taodue, Italys leading production company for quality fiction.
2007

2007

Mediaset acquires Medusa, Italy's leading production and distribution company and launch a new free digital terrestrial channel: Iris, a channel for great auteur films, music, literature and theatre.
2004

2004

Sees the launch in Italy of digital terrestrial TV, a system that makes it possible to transmit many more channels than the analogue system. Mediaset begins by launching Boing, a network for children, and Mediashopping, a guaranteed teleshopping channel.

2003

2003

Mediaset increases its stake in Telecinco becoming the major shareholder with a 50.1% stake. The following year, Spanish TV company is listed on the Madrid Stock Exchange.

1999

1999

The Group expands its activity to the web with Mediaset.it (a TV portal dedicated to Canale 5Italia 1 and Retequattro) and Mediaset Online (in 2001 it would become TgCom), an online news service, accessible across a range of media (the web, television, radio, Mediavideo teletext and mobile phones).

1997

1997

See the beginning of foreign expansion with the acquisition of a 25% stake in the Spanish private commercial broadcaster Telecinco.

1996

1996

Mediaset is listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, opening up the shareholding to major institutional and small private investors (around 300,000).