BT and Discovery have entered talks to create a new 50/50 joint venture bringing together their BT Sport and Eurosport UK and Ireland operations.
The tie-up would give BT Sport subscribers access to Discovery’s sport and entertainment content, including the discovery+ app, and would hold a host of premium sport rights, including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Olympic Games, cycling Grand Tours, tennis Grand Slams, the winter sport World Cup season and Premiership Rugby.
Completion of the deal, which is hoped for this year, is subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.
Marc Allera, CEO of BT Consumer, said: “The proposed joint venture with Discovery, Inc. would create an exciting new sports broadcasting entity for the UK and would act as a perfect home for our BT Sport business.
“With a shared ambition for growth, as well as the combination of our world class sports assets along with Discovery’s premium sports and entertainment content, our customers will benefit from even more content in more places.”
JB Perrette, President & CEO of Discovery Streaming & International, commented: “We are excited about this opportunity with BT Group to offer consumers a stronger and simplified combined sport offering in the UK and Ireland, and, more broadly, to advance our strategy of bringing sports and entertainment to more consumers on the platform of their choice.
“We are aligned with BT Group on a shared vision to maximize the value and appeal of our respective UK sport assets, and we look forward to concluding a deal in the coming weeks.”