DAZN in advanced talks to buy out BT Sports
Sports streaming subscription service DAZN is in advanced talks to acquire UK pay-TV broadcaster BT Sport, according to the Financial Times (FT).
The newspaper reports that negotiations over the price and a licensing agreement are ongoing, but adds that a deal potentially worth hundreds of millions of pounds could be reached within weeks.
Telecommunications giant BT confirmed in April that it was in talks with several parties over a potential sale of its sports network, in order to focus on the telco and 5G arms of its business. Commercial broadcaster ITV was among those linked with a deal.
Kevin Mayer, the chairman of DAZN, reiterated earlier this month that the over-the-top (OTT) service would be interested in securing domestic rights to the Premier League, which BT Sport is slated to broadcast until the end of the 2024/25 season. Mayer also reportedly added that one route to English soccer’s top flight could “possibly” be through an acquisition of BT Sport.
Should DAZN secure an agreement, it would also add cricket, rugby union and Australian rules football rights to its UK portfolio.
The company’s own recent major rights deals include a three-year contract worth over €2.5 billion (US$2.9 billion) for domestic rights to Italian soccer’s top-tier Serie A, as well as a five-year tie-up to be the global home of Matchroom Boxing.
DAZN’s purchase of BT Sport would also mark the entry of another major player in the Premier League domestic rights picture, after Amazon Prime Video joined Sky and BT when it first secured a package back in June 2018.
The FT notes, however, that DAZN’s deal is complicated due to a cross-licensing agreement that BT has with Sky, meaning the latter has to approve the sale. The report states that the two companies have held talks over a potential change in ownership.
BT could also still decide instead to partner with another sports broadcaster or keep the business in-house, according to the FT.
Re: DAZN in advanced talks to buy out BT Sports
Proper game changer for how we watch UK sport if this goes ahead, DAZN basically want a piece of the Premier League Football screenings.
They've already taken Matchroom Boxing away from Sky Sports and have a bottomless pit of money to take over BT Sports.
I read that Sky Sports have to "approve" this for it to happen and Frank Warren must be shitting himself currently and wondering where the fuck his stable will end up.
Streaming is without doubt the future of how we watch sports in the UK.
Re: DAZN in advanced talks to buy out BT Sports
Golden Boy sign new multi-year deal with DAZN but what fighters do they have?
The deal will include 'championship fight nights' as well as a new TV series titled 'Golden Boy Fight Night' on DAZN. It will be a monthly series hosted by boxing broadcaster Berto Duran and Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins.
Oscar De La Hoya has promised to deliver huge fights on the platform but that will be without Canelo Alvarez who left his company last year in a messy split.
With his bigger fighter gone, Planet Sport takes a look at some of the standout fighters that remain under De La Hoya.
Ryan Garcia
Despite not holding a world title, Garcia is seen as the face of Golden Boy.
The undefeated lightweight could be involved in a series of huge fights moving forward, including against Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney.
Seniesa Estrada
Estrada is the WBA minimumweight titlist and has previously held the WBC title at light flyweight. She is 22-0.
Jaime Munguia
A world champion at 154lbs, Munguia was expected to be a huge star but poor matchmaking has seen him go off the radar. His next fight is against Jimmy Kelly on June 11 and after that, let's hope he finally has a fight of significance.
Marlen Esparza
The American is the current WBA, WBC and Ring Magazine champion at flyweight. Esparza currently has a record of 11-1.
Vergil Ortiz Jr
One of the most underrated fighters in the world. The welterweight is the number one contender to Terence Crawford's WBO title and is 18-0 with as many knockouts.
Joshua Franco
The current WBA regular champion at super flyweight. He is fighting Juan Francisco Estrada next in a unification bout after three fights with Andrew Moloney.
Roger Gutierrez
The Venezuelan is the WBA super featherweight champion. He is on a seven-fight winning streak and has made one defence of the title, beating Rene Alvarado in a rematch in 2021.
Gilberto Ramirez
Ramirez was the first Mexican to win a super middleweight world title in 2016 and held the WBO belt until 2019. Ramirez has since won five wins at light heavyweight and is 44-0.
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