BRUSSELS (Reuters) – EU antitrust regulators have set a July 1 deadline for their decision on Liberty Media’s 3.5-billion-euro ($3.8 billion) bid for Dorna Sports as they resumed their investigation, according to an update on the European Commission website.
The EU antitrust watchdog had paused its scrutiny last month while waiting for information from the companies. The Commission restarted the clock on March 7, its website showed.
It had previously warned that the deal between Formula One owner Liberty Media and MotoGP’s parent company Dorna could jack up prices for the licensing of broadcasting rights for motorsports events hosted by both companies.
The investigation is also looking into whether Liberty Media’s and U.S. cable company Liberty Global’s largest shareholder, John Malone, has decisive influence over both companies that may prompt Liberty Media to shut out rival broadcasters in Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands where Liberty Global is present.
($1 = 0.9156 euros)
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Mark Potter)
