US technology company Amazon is reportedly in talks to join Sinclair Broadcast Group’s bid to acquire the former Fox regional sports networks being sold off by the Walt Disney Company.
The New York Post said Sinclair is looking for Amazon’s backing for an all-cash offer that would be worth about $10bn (€8.96bn) and include minority stakes in RSNs not owned by Fox.
The Post added that, while Sinclair has already landed bridge financing for the deal, lenders are seeking an additional $1bn in equity. This has reportedly led to Sinclair seeking out partners such as Amazon.
The report stated that Major League Baseball could yet become a Sinclair minority partner after recently giving up its own ambitions to secure control of the RSNs amid fears over conflict of interest.
Disney must divest the RSNs under the terms of its $71.3bn deal to acquire 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets. Disney is required to sell the RSNs within 90 days of the deal’s completion on March 19.