Metro
Discovery, BT Group in Discussions for U.K. Sports Joint Venture
British telecom main BT Group revealed that on Thursday that it has “entered unique discussions with Discovery, Inc. on a deal to create a brand new sport and leisure providing for patrons within the U.Ok.”
The brand new enterprise could be a 50/50 three way partnership, bringing collectively BT Sport with Eurosport U.Ok. “The brand new mixed enterprise would stay dedicated to retaining BT Sport’s present main sports activities broadcast rights whereas BT Sport clients would get entry to Discovery’s sport and leisure content material, together with the Discovery Plus app,” mentioned an announcement from the BT Group.
BT Sport holds unique reside U.Ok. and Eire TV rights to 52 Premier League matches per season, the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UFC, Nationwide League, Ligue 1, Serie A, the European Rugby Problem Cup, the Premiership Rugby Cup, MotoGP, the FIH Hockey World League and WWE. They’re additionally the official broadcast associate of the European Rugby Champions Cup and Premiership Rugby.
BT Group mentioned that they’re aiming to conclude the unique discussions with Discovery, Inc. within the early a part of the yr’s first quarter, with a view to the brand new firm changing into operational later this yr, topic to completion of the deal and approval by the related competitors authorities.
In January, it was reported that Kevin Mayer’s sports activities streaming service DAZN was on the cusp of an estimated $800 million deal to amass BT Sport, although that report was not corroborated by both social gathering.
Marc Allera, CEO BT Client, mentioned: “The proposed three way partnership with Discovery, Inc. would create an thrilling new sports activities broadcasting entity for the U.Ok. and would act as an ideal dwelling for our BT Sport enterprise. With a shared ambition for development, in addition to the mix of our world class sports activities belongings together with Discovery’s premium sports activities and leisure content material, our clients will profit from much more content material in additional locations.”
