By Jonathan Easton

DAZN is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire BT Sport, with the broadcaster reportedly seeking approval from the Premier League to authorise the sale.

While DAZN has reportedly long held an interest in BT Sport as a means of entering into the UK sports rights market, news emerged last month of a deal being on the table worth an estimated US$800 million.

Now The Times has reported that BT has opened talks with the Premier League to seek its approval for a sale, with the broadcaster holding a package of rights to the league through to 2025.

The report notes that BT also requires approval from UEFA as it holds the UK rights to its club competitions including the Champions League and Europa League. BT also holds rights to other major sports rights including the Ashes, Premiership Rugby, Serie A and others.

In addition to seeking approval from rights holders, another obstacle facing a deal is securing agreements with pay TV operators Sky and Virgin Media.

Negotiations between the parties became public in late 2021, and Discovery emerged as a potential backup when talks stalled. The Times notes that Discovery is still interested in the broadcaster, but the Len Blavatnik-backed DAZN is in the driving seat.