BT is buying into Mr Silvio Berlusconi's media empire television operation, it emerged yesterday. The communications group and its joint venture partner in Italy, BNL, are paying £71 million for a 2.4 per cent stake in Mediaset, the television holding group of the Italian media tycoon and former Italian prime minister. In return, Mediaset will take 30 per cent of Albacom, the BT/BNL joint venture, for £22 million as well as merging its telecoms activities with Albacom's.