Fox Sports buys Cleveland Indians channel
News Corp.’s Fox Sports Media Group has added to its growing portfolio of regional sports networks.
On Friday, Fox Sports said it has acquired SportsTime Ohio, a Cleveland-based channel owned by Larry Dolan, who also owns the Indians baseball team. As part of the deal, Fox Sports has also signed a long-term agreement to carry Indians baseball.
Terms for the sale were not disclosed but Sports Business Journal put the price tag in the $250 million range.
Fox already has a strong presence in the Buckeye state with its Fox Sports Ohio channel, which has more than 5 million subscribers. That channel also used to carry Indians games until Dolan started his own network.
“The acquisition of SportsTime Ohio solidifies our business in Ohio, and Fox Sports Media Group’s new long-term agreement with the Indians reunites the team with the Fox Sports family,” Jeff Krolik, executive vice president, Fox Sports Networks, said in a statement.
Fox Sports also recently agreed to purchase 49% of the Yes Network, the sports channel majority-owned by the New York Yankees. It is also in negotiations for a long-term deal for the TV rights to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Follow Joe Flint on Twitter @JBFlint.
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