Rupert Murdoch's News Corp to sell Foxtel to Britain's DAZN for $2.1 bln

News Corp has agreed to sell its Australian cable TV unit Foxtel to British-owned sports network for A$3.4 billion ($2 billion) including debt, cutting the Murdoch-controlled media empire's exposure to a business up-ended by streaming platforms. 

News Corp will gain a board seat and hold a 6 per cent stake in DAZN, a London-headquartered global streaming platform available in North America, Europe, and Asia and backed by Ukranian-born billionaire Len Blavatnik.

DAZN is a broadcasting partner for Italy's Serie A, Spain's LaLiga, Germany's Bundesliga and France's Ligue 1. It competes against traditional TV and satellite channels and provides access to a range of sports content, including American football, boxing and baseball over its streaming platform.

"Australians watch more sport than any other country in the world, which makes this deal an incredibly exciting opportunity for DAZN to enter a key market, marking another step in our long-term strategy to become the global home of sport," said DAZN co-founder and CEO Shay Segev.

Foxtel, launched by News Corp in 1995, has weighed on the media giant's profits for years as the number of people who pay monthly subscriptions for its broadcast content switched to cheaper streaming options like Netflix.

It has tried to diversify by adding its own streaming services like Kayo, which livestreams local sports Australian Football League (AFL) and the National Rugby League (NRL), to win back sports broadcasting market share. It also shows ESPN.

However, its earnings have suffered with the cost of sports broadcasting rights soaring just as subscriber revenue has shrunk. To help offset the costs, Foxtel often shares rights with free-to-air broadcasters.

"Foxtel’s traditional premium pricing model has long been a point of contention, particularly in an era dominated by more affordable streaming alternatives," said Paul Budde, an independent telco analyst.

"DAZN’s entry into the Australian market, potentially offering competitive or lower rates, could dramatically shift consumer expectations and reshape the pricing landscape."

The AFL's current seven-year deal with Foxtel-Channel Seven, which runs until 2031, is worth A$4.5 billion, while Cricket Australia will get A$1.5 billion from the same partners over the same time period.

Tennis rights, including the Australian Open Grand Slam, have been locked up until 2029 by Nine Entertainment, which has its own streaming service, Stan.

Nine is also in exclusive talks with Rugby Australia for broadcast rights beyond next year as the country prepares to host the Rugby World Cup in 2027.

The valuation on Foxtel represents seven times its 2024 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), News Corp said in a statement.

As part of the deal, shareholder loans valued at A$578 million outstanding will be repaid in full and Foxtel's current debt will be refinanced at closing.

News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson said the deal would allow the company to focus on its core operations of Dow Jones, digital real estate and book publishing. News owns 61.4 per cent of online real estate platform REA Group and is the parent company of publisher HarperCollins.

The deal is due to be finalised in the second half of 2025 and is subject to regulatory approval, News Corp said. Given the overseas ownership of DAZN, the transaction will need to be cleared by the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).

Blavatnik is a dual US and British citizen and the founder of Access Industries which has an investment portfolio worth more than $35 billion, according to its website.

A spokesperson for the Treasury, which oversees FIRB, said it did not comment on individual cases.

Australian telecom Telstra has also sold its 35 per cent stake in Foxtel to DAZN and will receive A$128 million in cash and a 3 per cent stake in DAZN.

ASX-listed shares of News Corp climbed 3.5 per cent to A$50.79 on Monday, outperforming a 1.6 per cent rise in the broader market .AXJO. Telstra's shares gained 1.1 per cent.