Background to the takeover
Liberty Media had originally planned to complete the purchase of the MotoGP shares before the end of 2024. However, the completion of the transaction has now been postponed until 2025, as the European Commission has initiated an in-depth investigation. As part of a so-called Phase II investigation, possible effects of the takeover on competition in the area of rights allocation for motorsport broadcasts are to be examined.
The EU Commission is concerned that the merger of the two rights holders for the biggest motorsport series on two and four wheels could lead to price increases for viewers in smaller markets. In addition, a potential monopoly in the area of motor sport broadcasts is seen as a risk.
Statement from the EU Commission
In an official statement, the European Commission said: “The transaction raises serious competition concerns in potentially tight national markets for the licensing of broadcasting rights for motor sport content in the European Economic Area (EEA), as Formula 1 is the clear market leader in all European countries and MotoGP is often the only competitor.” The Commission now has until May 14, 2025 to make a decision on whether to approve the takeover.
Dorna Sports remains optimistic
Despite the investigations, Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta is optimistic. He emphasizes the opportunities that a collaboration with Liberty Media could offer. Ezpeleta commented: “We expect this acquisition to receive the necessary approval from the EU and look forward to the potential opportunities to work with Liberty Media. Until then, we remain committed to our strategy of taking the sport to new heights and continuing our impressive growth to further expand our global fan base of over 500 million.”
Impressive figures for the 2024 MotoGP season
Ezpeleta also highlighted MotoGP’s successes in the 2024 season. He emphasized that the total number of spectators exceeded the 3 million mark for the first time and that six race tracks set new attendance records. The French Grand Prix in particular eclipsed all previous events with its record crowd. “We not only want to build on these successes, but achieve even more. Our strategy is already starting to bear fruit and we hope that the fans are as excited about the future as we are,” continued Ezpeleta.
Financial dimension of the takeover
The transaction is estimated to be worth around 4.2 billion US dollars. This corresponds to around 3.95 billion euros or around 3.6 billion pounds. If the takeover is approved, Liberty Media would not only gain control of the most important motorsport series, but would also exert considerable influence on the allocation of rights and the marketing of motorsport broadcasts.
Outlook for the future
It remains to be seen whether the EU Commission will approve the deal. If the takeover is approved, this could bring about significant changes for MotoGP, particularly with regard to the commercialization and global expansion of the series. Liberty Media has already shown in Formula 1 that it is capable of marketing the sport worldwide and tapping into new target groups. How this will affect MotoGP remains to be seen.
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