BT is approaching a deal to sell the TNT SPORTS class to Warner Bros Discovery

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Digest opened free editor

BT in advanced talks to sell its 50 percent share in the UK announcer TNT SPORTS to its joint partner in the United States, Warner Bruce Discovery, according to two people familiar with the situation.

They added, when a deal could be announced early next week. Bt He was appointed to issue the results of the entire year. However, this timing still can slip depending on how negotiations are advanced.

This step will end from the BT participation in the sports broadcast after more than a decade, which leads to the closure of the multiple telecommunications company’s bets with billions of pounds that the presentation of exclusive football games will win new customers in the wide range and maintain their current loyalists.

Warner Bros Discovery has the option to buy BT before the end of next year. The conclusion of a deal will give the American media giant better control over the future of sports channels, which is a major part of its business in Europe.

The sport will be the cornerstone of the WBD broadcasting service when it is launched in the United Kingdom next year, along with the HBO series like succession and White Lotus. The platform – which has been renamed HBO Max this week, will be shown instead of Max only – Harry Potter series.

BT and WBD rejected the comment.

BT entered the sports law market in 2012 with an aggressive strategy to compete with Sky on the home grass, and match the collected offers for TV, broadband and mobile services.

However, TNT-channels that have the rights of some exclusive football matches in the Premier League-as they are not fundamental by the CEO of BT Allison Kirkby. Since she took over in February 2024, she has Looking to re -focus the company On its traditional width of mobile phones and domain width.

TNT has always been a BT criticism, due to the increase in competition with Sky and Amazon to secure the rights of major competitions such as the Premier League. The company booked a loss of 187.5 million pounds before the tax in the fiscal year 2024, according to the accounts presented in the companies ’house in the United Kingdom.

The joint project is evaluated in BT accounts with more than 750 million pounds. However, people close to the conversations said that the company’s book value did not reflect the value of the deal, and that any deal that is exposed to the union with WBD would be much lower than this number.

TNT SPORTS, which has rights to show other competitions including the UEFA Champions League, was created, after BT merged its sports section with Warner Bros Discovery’s Eurosport UK in 2022.

The company has a four -year deal on Air 52 Premier Live matches every season until 2029, and a four -year agreement with the Football Association to show the FA Cup from 2025.



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