RTL, Talpa end merger plan after regulator opposition

European media conglomerate RTL Group and Dutch commercial broadcaster Talpa Network have dropped their merger plans after the proposal failed to gain the backing of the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).

RTL and Talpa had signed agreements to merge their businesses in the Netherlands back in June 2021 in an effort to create a “strong Dutch cross-media group”. The two parties said the merger would have allowed the combined group to step up investments in local content, technology and data amid the growing competition from global technology platforms.