New bidders emerge for Digiturk

Turk Telekom, Dogan Holding and Dogus Group have emerged as potential buyers for troubled pay TV operator Digiturk, with a deal likely to be valued at up to US$1 billion, according to Reuters.

The news agency cited banking sources as saying that News Corp and Liberty Global may also be interested in acquiring the pay TV service, following the seizure of majority owner Cukurova’s assets by the Turkish Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) in May.

Reuters cited a TMSF source as saying that Cukurova had been given additional time to sell Digiturk after the government body was persuaded it would be able to attract a higher price.

Digiturk is Turkey’s largest pay TV provider, with about 4.1 million subscribers and revenues of TRY51.8 million (€20.5 million) in the second quarter of 2012. Dogan Holding-backed Dsmart is the second player in the market.