Amazon switches focus to sports output

E-commerce company Amazon is interested in acquiring rights for a range of sports properties, including the French Open tennis tournament and professional rugby, according to the Bloomberg news agency.

The report added that sources, who had taken part in discussions over rights, had also confirmed an interest in golf, football and motorsports, as well as basketball and baseball in the US.

Most of the rights are unavailable for the foreseeable future, Bloomberg added.

Amazon has been exploring the possibility of launching a live online pay-television service since late 2015.

“Amazon has been leaning forward on sports. They want to be a new age MSO (multi-screen operator),” said Ken Solomon, the chief executive of US pay-television broadcaster, Tennis Channel. Solomon added that Tennis Channel has been in discussions with Amazon for more than a year.