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EU to investigate Liberty Media’s MotoGP purchase over antitrust concerns
Eliška Ryšánková
News.GP journalist who’s all about the thrilling worlds of MotoGP and Formula 1.
The European Union has launched an antitrust investigation into Liberty Media’s acquisition of an 86% stake in Dorna Sports, the owner of MotoGP. Concerns center on the potential impact of combining MotoGP and Formula 1 ownership on the broadcasting and streaming markets.
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The European Union is set to investigate Liberty Media’s purchase of the MotoGP world championship, according to Bloomberg reports.
Liberty, which also owns Formula 1, announced in April its plan to buy an 86% stake in Dorna Sports, MotoGP’s owner since 1992. To fund the deal, Liberty sold an $825 million stake in F1 in August. The transaction is valued at €4.2 billion, with €3.5 billion as the equity value, excluding Dorna’s 14% stake.
The EU’s new antitrust chief, Teresa Ribera, is leading the investigation due to concerns about how owning both Formula 1 and MotoGP might affect the broadcasting and streaming markets. Officials aim to start a deeper investigation by December 19.
This move, however, isn’t a surprise. In 2006, the EU forced F1’s former owner, CVC Media, to sell MotoGP over similar concerns.
Despite this, Liberty’s former CEO Greg Maffei said in April that he was confident the deal would be approved, arguing that F1 and MotoGP are just small parts of a larger sports and entertainment market.
