Posted By Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on May 17, 2025
(Reuters) -BT is in advanced talks to sell its 50% stake in British broadcaster TNT Sports to U.S. joint venture partner Warner Bros Discovery, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.
Reuters could not immediately confirm the report.
A deal could be announced as early as next week, the newspaper reported, citing sources it did not name. BT is set to report full-year results next week.
Warner Bros Discovery has an option to buy out BT's stake before the end of 2026, the FT said, adding that a deal would end BT’s involvement in sports broadcasting after more than a decade.
BT, WBD and TNT did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside business hours.
In 2022, the British telecom firm agreed to a sports broadcasting tie-up with Discovery in which both companies were equally represented on the venture's board.
A deal would come at a time when media companies are exploring options for their struggling cable TV businesses and sharpening the focus on their faster-growing streaming and studios divisions.
WBD plans to launch its HBO Max service in Britain, Ireland, Italy and Germany in 2026.
(Reporting by Gursimran Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard)
