Discovery becomes the majority shareholder (51%) of Eurosport France, which becomes Eurosport SAS

The US media company Discovery Communications has increased its stake in the pay-TV group Eurosport France from 20% to 51% on 31/03/2015. The transaction was made possible by the repeal of the pay DTT frequency of Eurosport France, requested by the TF1 group -- the then 80% owner of Eurosport France -- on 17/12/2014 at the CSA, the French audiovisual regulatory body, as a non-European shareholder can not hold more than 20% of the capital of French terrestrial channel.

Started in 2012, the redemption of the Eurosport SAS group, then wholly owned by TF1, by Discovery Communications had required that TF1 legally separates its two components, Eurosport France and Eurosport International: Eurosport SAS possessed Eurosport International and TF1 had possessed Eurosport France. Discovery Communications had increased its stake in Eurosport International from 20% to 51% on 30/05/2014.

"The TF1 group and Discovery Communications confirmed today the acquisition of 100% of Eurosport France by Eurosport SAS," stated the French media group on 31/03/2015. Discovery Communications now holds 51% of…