05 January 2025 GMT: 10:09

Broadcast power plays: Fox/Sky deal faces regulators, beIN Sports gets cash, BT hunts rights

TV cameraman

By Paul Nicholson

March 17 –  It has been a busy week in the sports broadcast market with UK Culture Secretary Karen Bradley referred 21st Century Fox’s £11.7 billion bid for full control of Sky to communications regulator Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority – Sky are the Premier League’s dominant TV partner. In France, Qatari owners have pumped in another €600 million into beIN Sports to cope with losses believed to at more than 1 billion.

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Does the end of Hayatou also spell the end for Lagardère and its $1bn rights package?

By Paul Nicholson

March 16 – With Issa Hayatou no longer president of the Confederation of African Football and the future of CAF general secretary Hicham El Amrani uncertain under the incoming presidency, there is also a question over whether the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) and Presentation Sports will continue with their complaint against CAF over the award of a 12-year marketing rights package to Lagardère Sports for $1 billion.

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