Sinclair Broadcasting Wins $ 10 Billion Award for Disney's RSN: Report – Deadline

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Sinclair Broadcasting Group, the largest owner of local television channels in the country, has finalized an agreement to acquire Disney's 21 regional sports networks for more than $ 10 billion, according to a report released Thursday. The Wall Street Journal.

It was thought that Sinclair was the favorite in the RSN race, which Disney agreed to unload under an agreement with the US Department of Justice and other global regulators prior to its $ 71.3 billion acquisition. most of Fox. He was already part of a group that last month acquired the YES network, considered the jewel of regional networks, under a separate $ 3.5 billion contract. He recently announced the conclusion of a partnership with the Chicago Cubs for the launch of a new RSN network. 2020.

the WSJ, quoting people close to the deal, announced that an official announcement could be announced as early as Friday. NOTSinclair or Disney responded to Deadline's request for comment. Fox Business, citing unnamed sources, said last week that the two companies had reached a "handshake" deal.

Other bidders for the remaining 21 networks include Liberty Media, Major League Baseball and Ice Cube's 3×3 Big3 Basketball League.

RSNs were cash cows for their owners in the 1990s and 2000s, but more recently they have been hit by major disruptions in the traditional business model and by pay TV operators who refuse to meet their demand for payroll charges. high diffusion. (SportsNet LA, a joint venture between Charter and the Los Angeles Dodgers, has left much of their team's fans in Los Angeles unable to watch the games due to transportation issues.)

Analysts' initial forecasts were in the range of $ 15 to $ 20 billion for the portfolio.

Sinclair, who already owns Tennis Channel and the Digital Stadium Network, has shown interest in RSNs since the beginning, and even more so after its $ 3.9 billion Tribune Media purchase was rejected by regulators the year last and left him on a lot of money.

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