Australia: beIN Media Group poised to acquire pay channel Setanta Sports Australia

The Qatari pay-TV company beIN Media Group is poised to acquire the Australian pay-TV channel Setanta Sports Australia, the investment fund Danu Partners announced on 14/08/2014. Danu Partners owns the assets of Setanta Sport outside of the UK.

Completion of the sale is subject to approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board, the Australian government agency in charge of analysing the investments made by foreign companies in Australia and advising the government on whether to permit them. This authorisation could occur by 14/09/2014, according to Australian media outlets.

Rumours have been flying concerning an arrival of beIN Sports in Australia since the pay channel Fox Sports passed on purchasing the broadcasting rights for Italian Serie A for the Australian market on 22/10/2013. These rights, sold by the media and marketing rights agency MP & Silva, had already been allocated to Al Jazeera Sport (the name of beIN Media Group before 01/01/2014) although the group was not present Australia.

The Australian website Mumbrella.com.au reported on 12/12/2013 that negotiations had…