Advanced Television

Discovery looks to speed up Eurosport buyout

November 21, 2013

EurosportDiscovery Communications and Television Francaise 1 (TF1) are in talks over the possibility that the US firm could take control of the French broadcaster’s sports network Eurosport group earlier than initially planned.

Discovery – which last year bought a 20 per cent stake in Eurosport for $221.6 million – has a call option to raise its stake in the European sports network to 51 per cent on or after December 21st 2014.

The two group’s have begun discussions to “evaluate whether Discovery will exercise its call option prior to the agreed upon date.”

However, TF1 said that it would rather keep its 80 per cent stake in Eurosport’s French branch until at least December 31st 2014.

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, Business, M&A