Electric racing series Formula E accounts for at most just 5% of the number of hours of major motorsport events viewed on television in Britain according to a report from the country’s anti-trust regulator. As Forbes reported, the takeover raised potential anti-trust concerns as the billionaire John Malone owns the majority of Liberty Media and sister company Liberty Global. Liberty Global owns 9.9% of British broadcaster ITV, which formerly screened F1. Likewise, Liberty Global owns TV network Virgin Media, has a 50% stake in former F1 production company owner All3Media and 24.5% of Formula E alongside co-investor Discovery Communications. The CMA claims that even if Mr Malone was in a position to refuse to give the F1 rights to a channel this would not have a material impact.

Source: Forbes January 17, 2017 07:15 UTC