BT and Discovery sport tie-up faces UK antitrust probe

Britain’s competition watchdog said on Wednesday it had started investigating BT Group’s deal to combine its sports broadcasting business with Warner Bros Discovery.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had until July 28 to make its phase 1 decision on whether the joint venture between the country’s biggest broadband and mobile provider and the U.S. company will result in lesser competition in the UK.

BT, a former British telecoms monopoly, clinched a sports broadcasting tie-up with Discovery last month after months of discussions with the American media company.