International Business / The Pacific

Digital Pay-TV Alliance to Be Scrutinized: Antitrust authorities said they will investigate the alliance between Bertelsmann and CLT of Luxembourg. Alliances in European media among old foes and newcomers may be designed to protect home markets rather than to develop cross-border links, analysts said. The German Federal Cartel Office said it is likely to refer the proposed merger of Bertelsmann and CLT to the European Commission. The commission independently said it will want to scrutinize the alliance, which will come under the umbrella of a partnership announced last month between Europe’s biggest pay-TV operators Canal Plus and British Sky Broadcasting Group, with Bertelsmann and Havas.