Berlusconi's Mediaset has managed to get their feet through the door by acquiring the Spanish TV channel Cuatro from Prisa as well as 22% of Prisa's Digital Plus. The billion euro affair will give Prisa some pocket change to affront their nearly six billion euro mountain of debt. Mediaset's Telecinco-Cuatro pole now represents the largest audience share in Spain. If Italy is any precedent one can expect a patient growth of audience shares and further acquisitions from a belaboured Prisa. Although Prisa controls 57% of Digital Plus, it's Mediaset's undeniable experience in the market that will tip the balance in its own favour.

Prisa also owns El Pais. A similar takeover occured in Italy with Mondadori. Berlusconi first acquired their Retequattro and quickly moved to take over the entire group which at the time included the Espresso-la Repubblica editorial group. In a memorable financial-political battle the Espresso-la Repubblica group managed to break off and get away. Berlusconi has been recently condemned to pay 750 million euro to the De Benedetti group (editors of Espresso and la Repubblica) for damages derived from Berlusconi's having bribed judges in the Mondadori legal battle.

Berlusconi is not going to let El Pais get away. Seeing how Berlusconi quickly converts once venerable news sources into scurilous propaganda megaphones, it would be best that the editors and reporters there get on the ball quickly. Otherwise, le Monde, la Repubblica and other major European dailies that collaborate together will have to count Spain out once Berlusconi controls El Pais. Good luck.