Mediaset Files Antitrust Claim Against Sky Italia Digital Key

Mediaset SpA (MS.MI) said Tuesday it filed a claim with Italy's antitrust regulator against News Corp.'s (NWS) satellite unit Sky Italia launching a new digital key that will allow Sky's high-definition TV customers to view free-to-air digital terrestrial TV channels.

In a statement, Mediaset said that the new commercial initiative by rival Sky Italia violates Italian and European Union competition rules and eventually damages consumers, limiting their possible choices in terms of TV offerings.

Sky Italia's new digital key, which will be launched in December amid growing competition in the Italian pay-TV market with rival Mediaset, is part of Sky's broader strategy aimed at retaining premium customers and boosting its new high-definition offer.

News Corp. owns Dow Jones & Company, publisher of this newswire.

Sky's aggressive competition in the Italian TV market has pushed together private Mediaset and state-owned RAI, which recently created a joint satellite platform, named TivuSat.

Following the creation of TivuSat, RAI has withdrawn five of its digital channels from Sky Italia's platform.

Analysts say the launch of Sky's new key is a response to RAI's pullout and a new step in the battle with Mediaset to dominate the Italian TV sector.

-By Giada Zampano, Dow Jones Newswires; 39 06 69766920; [e-mail]