Liberty Media, the owner of Formula 1, has officially been granted permission to take over Dorna, the organization behind MotoGP. A takeover for 4.2 billion euros was announced in April 2024, but the European Commission declared that it would first investigate the deal. There were concerns that Liberty Media would gain too much power in the distribution of broadcasting rights. The EU approved the takeover without objections on Monday.
“Based on the evidence gathered, the Commission finds that the companies are not direct competitors for the broadcasting rights of sports images,” the European Commission stated in a declaration. An official investigation into potential violations of EU competition law began in December. The Commission feared that Liberty Media would create a broadcasting monopoly in the European market – with Formula 1 and MotoGP, it would indeed control two of the largest racing classes.
The Formula 1 Treatment
The American media giant hopes to give the championship the same long-term treatment as Formula 1. The premier class of motorsport has – since the takeover in 2017 – significantly grown in popularity, tapping into important new markets.
“There is a very large and growing market for audiovisual entertainment that extends far beyond just sports,” a Liberty Media spokesperson previously stated. “This transaction will enhance MotoGP’s competitiveness in this highly competitive market.” Amid the developments around MotoGP, there are whispers that Liberty Media wants to sell Formula 1. For now, these are just rumors, but from 2026, the sport could potentially be back on the market.
