Telia's bid for Bonnier Broadcasting, valued at just over SEK 9 billion, came in July 2018. The European Commission launched an in-depth review of the bid in May this year. When the review was initiated, the Commission expressed concern that, as a result of the transaction, consumers in Finland and Sweden would suffer from reduced choice and higher prices for television broadcasts.

Criticism

The deal has also received criticism from a political perspective, both from leading Social Democrats and moderates. Critics point out, among other things, that the deal gives the state, with a 38 percent ownership interest in Telia, a far too great influence over the Swedish TV market.

cut up

In the debate, as a result of the deal, it has been proposed, among other things, that Telia should be split up, in order to distinguish the ownership of nationally important infrastructure such as sensitive mobile networks from the ownership of mobile services and media production.