Report: Disney May Sell Regional Sports Networks Piecemeal

Walt Disney may look to sell regional sports networks (RSNs) from its overall $71.3 billion deal with 21st Century Fox in a piecemeal way, according to one report.

Due to initial low-ball bids, including from TV station company Sinclair Broadcast Group, Disney’s plan is to sell the RSNs one at a time to raise the overall price of the sports group, according to the New York Post.

Fox’s 22 regional sports networks are said to have a possible value of $20 billion, per sources.

Possible other acquirers of Fox’s regional sports networks include other big TV station groups -- Nexstar Media Group and Tegna; private-equity firms, such as Apollo Global Management (possibly partnering with Nexstar) and Blackstone Group; cable operator Charter Communications; Major League Baseball; Amazon, as well as a few baseball teams.

The New York Yankees, for example, could be looking to acquire the YES regional sports network.

In addition, Disney has a 90-day deadline to close on its $71.3 billion deal for Fox’s businesses, which also include TV and movie divisions.

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