History and Ownership of Major Sports Channels
Most fans recognise names like Sky Sports, TNT Sports and beIN Sports, but fewer people know who owns them or how they started. This article gives a clear, simplified overview of the history and ownership of the main sports broadcasters.
Sky Sports (United Kingdom)
Sky Sports is the leading sports channel group in the UK and Ireland. It began life as The Sports Channel in 1990 and was renamed Sky Sports in April 1991.
It was previously linked to Rupert Murdoch’s companies (News Corporation and later 21st Century Fox). In 2018 it was acquired by the American company Comcast and is now part of Sky Group under Comcast.
Sky Sports is especially strong in Premier League coverage, but the service is mainly available in the UK and Ireland because of rights restrictions.
TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport)
BT Sport launched in August 2013 as a major competitor to Sky in the UK. It was originally fully owned by the British telecom company BT.
In 2022, BT and Warner Bros. Discovery formed a joint venture. In July 2023 the channels were rebranded as TNT Sports. The name comes from the American TNT channel that belongs to the same wider group.
Today TNT Sports in the UK is jointly owned by BT Group and Warner Bros. Discovery. It shows Premier League matches, Champions League games and other major sports.
Fox Sports
Fox Sports started in the United States in 1994. Ownership moved from News Corporation to 21st Century Fox. After Disney’s big acquisition in 2019, the US sports assets stayed with Fox Corporation (still controlled by the Murdoch family).
The “Fox Sports” brand has been used in several countries, but ownership varies:
- United States: Fox Corporation
- Australia: previously linked to Foxtel, later moved under the DAZN group
- Parts of Latin America: different licensing arrangements
beIN Sports
It began as Al Jazeera Sports around 2003 and was rebranded as beIN Sports between 2012 and 2014. The parent company is beIN Media Group, which is owned by Qatari interests (linked to Qatar’s sovereign wealth structures).
beIN Sports is one of the most important broadcasters of European football in the Middle East and North Africa, and it also operates in other markets.
ESPN
ESPN was founded in the United States in 1979. It is majority-owned by The Walt Disney Company (through ABC), with minority stakes held by Hearst and, more recently, the NFL.
ESPN is one of the largest sports media brands in the world, with channels and digital platforms in the US and other regions.
DAZN
DAZN is a global sports streaming platform that grew out of Perform Group. It is primarily owned by Access Industries, the investment group of billionaire Len Blavatnik. It has expanded rapidly by acquiring rights and companies in multiple countries, including major moves in Australia.
SSC (Saudi Arabia)
The Saudi Sports Company (SSC) was launched around 2021 as the main sports channel brand in Saudi Arabia. It carried Saudi Pro League matches and other events. Rights arrangements in Saudi Arabia have evolved, so it is important to check the current official broadcaster (SSC or related platforms such as Shahid, depending on the period).
Quick summary
- Sky Sports → Comcast (via Sky) – dominant in the UK
- TNT Sports (UK) → BT + Warner Bros. Discovery joint venture (formerly BT Sport)
- Fox Sports (US) → Fox Corporation
- beIN Sports → beIN Media Group (Qatar)
- ESPN → Disney (majority) + partners
- DAZN → Access Industries
This overview helps you understand who is behind the channels you watch. Always remember that broadcasting rights are local and change often, so check the official broadcaster in your own country.