Liberty Media Looking to Sell Formula One?

Less than 3 years after Liberty Global acquired Formula One, the company is reportedly exploring scenarios that would decrease their stake in the international racing circuit; everything from an exit to the introduction of new equity partners in on the table. Liberty has failed to add races and/or major sponsors, attract younger fans or drive digital revenues.

Issues that collectively indicate the C-suite is in over their heads and taking direction from the wrong places. Keep an eye on former owner Bernie Ecclestone, the British business magnate has the capital, know-how and can likely reclaim the asset back for a fraction of the $8 billion he sold it for. 

Now, sources indicate that UK-based DAZN Group, rich in fight sports broadcasts rights (in U.S.), is piling up the losses on its P&L and is considering selling off the company’s B2B play – Perform Content – to fund additional rights acquisitions. The initial plan was to use Perform Content’s cash flow to cross-finance the company’s D2C sports-centric streaming service.

But skyrocketing rights fees for live sports content has created the need for some short-term financing; look for the company to add some long-tail content in the near-term to complement the cyclical nature of its live MMA/boxing events.

A decade after acquiring the ticketing giant, there are rumors that Live Nation could be looking to shed Ticketmaster at a profit. Ticketmaster wants to be in the marketplace business, but a decision by eBay to spinoff Stubhub would force the company to become a market maker. By cutting ties with Ticketmaster, Live Nation – a content rights holder – would be able to take advantage of a more robust ticketing engine and open distribution Ticketmaster wants all sales to go through Ticketmaster.

5 years after the launch of FS2, Fox Sports may finally have a programming solution for the supplemental cable sports channel; gambling content. The talk is certainly preliminary, but it’s not difficult to imagine a future where New Fox looks to marry live rights with sports betting; the company has already introduced its first daily gambling show – “Lock It In” with Rachel Bonnetta, Cousin Sal and Clay Travis. Could ESPN be far behind?