As part of the deal to get Department of Justice approval of the Disney and Fox merger was a requirement that the Fox Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) would be sold off. According to the deal, when Disney closes on the sale of most of 21st Century Fox they would sell off the regional sports networks currently running under the Fox Sports name.
Now Amazon and YouTube are interested in buying the 22 RSNs. It seems both Amazon and YouTube are hoping by buying these networks they could expand their online sports streaming abilities.
Recently both YouTube and Amazon have pushed hard into live sports streaming. Many see live sports as one of the few cord cutting–proof futures of TV. As many Americans want to watch sports live they are also forced to sit through ads, making sports and other live events relatively cord cutting resistant or at least that is what some hope.
YouTube and Amazon are not alone in their interest in the 22 Fox RSNs. It is also reported that Sinclair, Blackstone, CVC Capital Partners, and Apollo all also have their eye on the 22 networks. Yet Disney still needs to complete the sale of Fox before they can even consider the purchase of the Fox Sports Networks.
Source: Bloomberg
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