MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Next on the list for Amazon dominance: Sports networks

Nov 20, 2018, 3:57 PM

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos...

(AP)

(AP)

Amazon has its sights set on another new market, evidenced by the company’s bid on 22 Fox regional sports networks.

RELATED: Bezos says Amazon is not too big to fail, and will one day

First reported by CNBC, Amazon is targeting the collection of regional sports networks that Disney got as part of its deal to acquire 21st Century Fox. Among the stations on the table is New York’s YES Network, known for broadcasting Yankees baseball and Nets basketball.

Amazon has already made headway into the world of sports, spending $130 million over the next two years for the rights to broadcast Thursday Night Football. Since it first started streaming select NFL football games in 2017, Amazon has seen a massive increase in viewership year-over-year.

The company still has a long road ahead of it before anything is official. Also bidding on the Fox sports networks were Apollo Management Group, KKR, The Blackstone Group, Sinclair Broadcast Group, and Tegna. Fox themselves did not submit a bid, but sources tell CNBC that it could enter the ring in the second round of bidding, due by the end of 2018.

Disney is being forced to sell the networks in the first place as a condition of its acquisition of 21st Century Fox.

Every lane is Amazon’s lane

Amazon has made a concerted effort to continually expand outside of its massive online marketplace. The company is considering the possibility of opening 3,000 cashierless grocery stores by 2021, following the 10 planned locations on the docket for the end of 2018.

Amazon also has designs of launching its own digital pharmacy, already has a collection of brick-and-mortar bookstores, and CEO Jeff Bezos has his eyes on the next generation of space travel.

Whatever it plans to do with 22 regional sports networks, it’s clear that the company’s run of dominance doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.

RELATED: Amazon considers opening 3,000 cashierless Go stores

MyNorthwest News

Polyclinic Broadway mental health crisis center...

Luke Duecy

King County mental health crisis center renovation estimate more than doubles to $35 million

The estimated cost to renovate a former medical office building on Seattle's Capitol Hill into a mental health crisis center has more than doubled.

3 minutes ago

Jimothy (2)...

Julia Dallas

Jimothy Facebook page warns of death threats against deformed raccoon

Jimothy, the deformed Ballard raccoon turned national celebrity, has reportedly been receiving death threats.

49 minutes ago

Bird Flu...

Julie Berg, KIRO 7 News

Bird flu confirmed in birds at Lake Tye Park in Monroe

The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife confirmed that avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is present in birds at Lake Tye Park.

1 hour ago

chipotle seattle taco time...

Charlie Harger

Study: Out of 960 Chipotles, the most praised one in America is in a former Seattle Taco Time

The best Chipotle in America sits inside one of Seattle’s strangest buildings, according to a new study.

1 hour ago

Chris Reykdal...

Julia Dallas

Chris Reykdal won’t seek reelection as state superintendent, weighs run for another office

Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal announced Monday that he will not be seeking re-election in 2028.

2 hours ago

storm (1)...

Jake Chapman, KIRO 7 News

Downed trees during Saturday’s storm briefly trapped visitors inside Olympic National Park

Strong winds from a weekend storm knocked out power to thousands and toppled trees that blocked roads around Olympic National Park.

3 hours ago

Next on the list for Amazon dominance: Sports networks