US media giant News Corporation said Monday it has raised its stake in German pay-television operator Premiere to 25 percent, the second increase since buying into the firm in January.

News Corp., which previously owned 22.7 percent of the company, has been increasing its stake in Premiere since January, when it bought a 14.5 percent stake the from cable operator Unitymedia, amid speculation that the German company would become the object of a takeover.

Premiere's share price has also risen slightly in that time, from 12.70 euros ($19.70) to 13.50 euros ($20.94).

Premiere has more than 4 million subscribers in Germany and Austria tor its TV and digital radio channels. Its programming includes movies and live soccer.

Murdoch has also recommended that Premiere's supervisory board be expanded to include members of News Corp. management. Premiere's stockholders will vote on the proposal at the annual meeting on June 12.

Premiere said it had 4.242 million subscribers by the end of the first quarter, among them 621,908 arena wholesale customers who subscribed to Bundesliga soccer.

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