The European Commission has cleared a deal for US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications to acquire a controlling stake in pan-regional sports broadcaster Eurosport.
Discovery struck the deal with French media company TF1 in January but it needed regulatory approval.
The EC has approved the deal after determining there were no competition concerns.
“The parties only have moderate market shares on the markets for the acquisition of TV rights, wholesale TV channels and TV advertising, where their activities overlap,” the European body said.
Discovery first acquired a 20 per cent stake in Eurosport as part of a strategic partnership drawn up in December 2012 and secured an option to increase its shareholding to 51 per cent on or after December 21, 2014. However, both parties said the deal could be accelerated in November 2013.