Pan-regional media company Turner Latin America has confirmed the acquisition of Brazilian commercial television channel Esporte Interativo.
In June 2013, Turner acquired a significant minority stake, said to be 20 per cent, in Esporte Interativo for R80m (€24m/$29.8m).
Financial terms of the new agreement were not disclosed, but Turner will now control 100 per cent of Esporte Interativo after buying the rest of the shares in the broadcaster, which were held by the Top Sports agency.
Esporte Interativo chief executive and co-founder Edgar Diniz will remain in position following the takeover. He said: “This agreement will strengthen EI in our mission to connect, entertain and make people feel emotion through sport. It will strongly contribute to our plans in pay-TV.”
Esporte Interativo is set to enter the Brazilian pay-television market after it secured the pay-television and online rights to the Uefa Champions League club football competition in November for three seasons, 2015-16 to 2017-18.
Juan Carlos Urdaneta, president of Turner Latin America, said: “Brazil is a priority market for both Turner and for Time Warner, and the company is fully committed to the growth of this marketplace.
“We consider the brand and the EI positioning to be very attractive. The EI executive team implemented a multi-platform approach and a programming strategy that differentiates EI from other sports channels and we look forward to working together to further enhance this success.”