BT Group: exclusive negotiations with Discovery to create a BT Sport/Eurosport UK joint venture

The British telecommunications operator BT announced on 03/02/2022 that it had entered into exclusive negotiations with US media group Discovery, parent company of pay-TV group Eurosport, to create an "50/50 joint venture" combining BT Sport and Eurosport UK.

"BT Group are aiming to conclude the exclusive discussions with Discovery, Inc. in early Q1 for the new company to be operational later this year (2022), subject to completion of the deal and approval by the relevant competition authorities," said BT.

"The new combined business would remain committed to retaining BT Sport's existing major sports broadcast rights while BT Sport customers would get access to Discovery's sport and entertainment content, including the discovery+ app," explained the telecommunications operator.

BT had confirmed that it was studying the possibility of selling all or part of its subsidiary BT Sport, on 29/04/2021. The UK-based OTT sports platform DAZN was in advanced discussions to acquire BT Sport, according to the Financial Times on 21/09/2021.

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