BT is considering selling its sports channels – which currently cover the Champions and Europa leagues, some Premier League matches, European football leagues and the Gallagher Premiership Rugby League.
The telecoms giant said it would be interested in selling a stake in BT Sport, or the whole lot depending on what agreements can be made – or even striking a partnership deal.
The Daily Telegraph has said BT is talking with Amazon, Walt Disney and international sports streaming venture Dazn over a potential stake sale to bring investment into the sports content arm.
READ MORE: {}
But PA says an unnamed British broadcaster is thought to be leading the bids. BT did not confirm which firms it is talking to and said talks are at an early stage.
It said: “Further to media reports, BT can confirm that early discussions are being held with a number of select strategic partners, to explore ways to generate investment, strengthen our sports business, and help take it to the next stage in its growth.
“The discussions are confidential and may or may not lead to an outcome.”
It would mark a shift in strategy for BT after ramping up its presence in the sports market over the past decade and spending billions of pounds taking on Sky.
The sports world has been hit hard by the pandemic, with lockdowns and restrictions across the globe having a devastating impact on live sports.
Most Read
BT is focusing its attention on upgrading the 海角视频’s broadband network and building its 5G network and has become less willing to pay hefty prices demanded for sports rights under boss Philip Jansen.
Its wider business has likewise been under pressure due to the pandemic.
The group said in February that underlying earnings fell 5 per cent to £5.6 billion as revenues dropped 7 per cent in the nine months to December 31 after its consumer and enterprise operations were hit by virus restrictions.
Russ Mould, investment director of online trading platform AJ Bell said it was interesting BT was acting now – after the threat the apparently defunct European Super League had posed to competitions such as the Champions and Europa Leagues.
He said: “Maybe BT doesn’t think the breakaway European Super League is as dead as it appears to be given the company has confirmed speculation it is considering a sale of its BT Sport arm.
“While it shows Premier League games, the sports broadcaster’s crown jewels are its exclusive rights to the existing UEFA-backed competitions including the Champions League – a product which would be massively devalued if the top clubs followed through on a threat to forge out on their own.
“In reality it seems BT will only be opting for a partial sale of the division, with Amazon and Disney as well as a British broadcaster believed to be in the frame.
Don’t miss
“Bidding for sports rights is an expensive and unpredictable business – securing them can be a big pull for subscribers and advertisers but it involves a big outlay and there is always a risk a rival could gazump you at the last moment – a trick BT itself has pulled in the past.
“Plus at the moment the world of sports and sports rights is in a flux thanks to the pandemic – it’s a very different world from the one in which BT launched as a challenger to Sky nearly a decade ago.
“By selling a bit of the business, and reducing the amount it spends on sport, BT could generate funds to help meet the massive bill it faces for investing in broadband infrastructure.
“After all, most customers would take a more reliable internet service over slightly cheaper access to watching the footy.”