Competition watchdog clears BT joint venture with Warner Bros Discovery

BT, Britain's biggest broadband and mobile provider, agreed to a sports broadcasting tie-up with Discovery in May. Picture: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

Britain's competition watchdog on Friday approved a merger of sports broadcasting businesses of BT Group and Warner Bros. Discovery.

The deal to combine BT's sports TV unit with Discovery's Eurosport in Britain and Ireland enables the British company to retain Premier League soccer for its customers, while sharing the burden of expensive broadcast rights.