[Satellite TODAY 08-21-09] The Israeli Antitrust Authority will not allow Bezeq Telecommunications and its minority shareholder Eurocom to acquire the majority holding in Israeli satellite TV broadcaster Yes, according to an Aug. 20 announcement by the Office of the Anti-Trust Commissioner.
    The Antitrust Authority determined that Bezeq and Eurocom are competitors in other telecommunications sectors, and that a partnership between them would damage competition. The two companies own Bezeq International Ltd. and Eurocom Smile Communications Ltd., which are competing international voice carriers and Internet services providers.
The Antitrust Authority ordered Bezeq and Eurocom to end their partnership, giving the companies a few months to liquidate.
    In a reponse, Bezeq, officially known as DBS Satellite Services, said it has no option but to sell its holding in Yes to Eurocom.
    Bezeq announced its intent to merge with Yes in May, after the two parties reached an agreement that would require Bezeq to raise its investment in Yes from 49.8 percent to 58 percent from 49.8 percent,.
    In November, Bezeq sold its satellite communications operations to RRsat Global Communications Network.

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