BT Sport is set to lose the broadcast rights to the popular UFC “ultimate fighting” and NBA basketball after walking away from the bidding amid spiraling costs.
The move comes weeks after BT lost the rights to Italian Serie A football.
The firm spends around £1bn a year on sports rights, such as the Premier League and Champions League football, a sum which some investors have criticised.
BT’s sports channels will continue to show NBA Basketball until the end of October and UFC until 3 December.
The TV rights with BT Sport will conclude at the end of 2018 and according to Jim Edwards of MMANytt.com, the rights will then move over to Eleven Sports.
Eleven is owned by Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani, who controls Leeds United football club.
Eleven Sports currently provide TV and/or digital services in Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Taiwan, United States and starting next month, the UK and Ireland.
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