Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp to sell Foxtel to Britain’s DAZN for $2.1 bln
SYDNEY – News Corp has agreed to sell its Australian cable TV unit Foxtel to British-owned sports network DAZN 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% stake in DAZN, a London-headquartered global streaming platform available in North America, Europe, and Asia and backed by Ukrainian-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 NFLX.O.
Foxtel has attempted to diversify by launching its own streaming services, such as Kayo, which livestreams local Australian sports. However, its earnings have been negatively impacted by the rising cost of sports broadcasting rights, while subscriber revenue has declined. To help mitigate these costs, Foxtel frequently shares broadcasting rights with free-to-air networks.
“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 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% of online real estate platform REA Group REA.AX 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 U.S. 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 TLS.AX has also sold its 35% stake in Foxtel to DAZN and will receive A$128 million in cash and a 3% stake in DAZN.
ASX-listed shares of News Corp climbed 3.5% to A$50.79 on Monday, outperforming a 1.6% rise in the broader market. AXJO. Telstra’s shares gained 1.1%.
News Corp is a multinational media conglomerate with interests in various sectors, including news, digital media, book publishing, and real estate. Founded by Rupert Murdoch, the company owns prominent newspapers such as The Times, The Sun, and The Australian, along with significant real estate platforms like Realtor.com. News Corp also owns HarperCollins publishing.
