The European Commission, the European Union's executive body, is set to thoroughly review Liberty Media's acquisition of an 86% stake inOriginally expected to close by the end of 2024, the transaction has been delayed as the Commission evaluates its potential implications, pushing the completion timeline beyond initial projections.
"The transaction may remove important competitive constraints between the parties on some potential wider national markets for the licensing of broadcasting rights for all sports content or possible segments of such markets. In particular, this is because it appears that Formula One and MotoGP compete closely."
The commission will also delve into the role of John Malone, the principal shareholder of both Liberty Media and Liberty Global, to assess whether his influence could disadvantage competing broadcasters in countries where Liberty operates, including the Netherlands, Belgium, and Ireland.