TF1 and Discovery in talks to advance Eurosport deal

Discovery Communications and French media company TF1 are in talks over the American media and entertainment company securing control of pan-European sports broadcaster Eurosport ahead of the original schedule drawn up in December 2012.

Last year, TF1 announced that it had sold a 20-per-cent stake in Eurosport to Discovery.

The US firm has a call option to raise its stake in the Eurosport to 51 per cent on or after December 21, 2014.

TF1 said today that the two groups had begun discussions to “evaluate whether Discovery will exercise its call option prior to the agreed upon date.”

However, TF1 added that it wants to keep its 80-per-cent stake in Eurosport France until at least December 31, 2014.