EU Commission gives unconditional approval to Liberty Media to acquire Dorna Sports
Over a year after its initial announcement in April 2024, Liberty Media’s acquisition of Dorna Sports—the commercial rights holder and organizer of the MotoGP World Championship—has received unconditional approval from the European Commission (EC). The EC’s decision concluded that the transaction would not raise competition concerns within the European Economic Area (EEA), effectively clearing the final significant hurdle for the US$4.2 billion deal.
Liberty Media, renowned for its extensive portfolio in media, sports, and entertainment, including its ownership of the Formula One (F1) racing, will now acquire an 86% stake in Dorna. Dorna’s current top management, led by Carmelo Ezpeleta and Enrique Aldama, will retain the remaining 14% stake in the company.
The acquisition agreement, initially disclosed last year, faced considerable delays due to an in-depth investigation launched by the European Commission in December. Concerns had been raised that the deal might grant Liberty Media a dominant position in the European race broadcasting rights market, potentially leading to increased consumer prices.
Marc Marquez - current leader in the 2025 MotoGP season standings
The inquiry also scrutinized whether the influence of John Malone, a major shareholder in both Liberty Media and Liberty Global, might lead to the exclusion of rival broadcasters in countries where Liberty operates, such as Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The EC’s deadline for this investigation expired on May 14, with the decision expected before July 1.
Liberty Media previously stated in April 2024 that the transaction would enable it to leverage its expertise, particularly gained from F1, to enhance MotoGP’s global popularity and appeal. A prevailing sentiment among Dorna’s leadership acknowledges MotoGP as an exceptional product that has yet to fully realize its commercial potential.
The new owners’ key focus areas will reportedly include expanding the championship’s reach, penetrating strategic markets like the US, boosting TV audiences, and attracting major sponsors—a strategy that significantly contributed to F1’s exponential growth through initiatives like the Netflix documentary series Drive to Survive and the recent Hollywood production F1: The Movie.
With the acquisition now confirmed, executives from both Liberty Media and Dorna are set to establish a joint working group. Their immediate objective is to expand the MotoGP World Championship across all levels and territories.
The first joint operational sessions are anticipated to take place in Madrid—Dorna’s financial headquarters—during the second week of July. This development is expected to alleviate the uncertainty that has permeated most of Dorna's departments over the past year, particularly within its commercial division responsible for TV rights, ticketing, advertising, and sponsorship.
