The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will investigate Sportradar’s proposed acquisition of IMG Arena amid concerns the deal could lead to a “substantial lessening of competition” within the UK market.
Sportradar entered a definitive agreement with Endeavor to acquire both IMG Arena and its global sports betting rights portfolio in March, as part of a deal worth $225m (£166.2m), though Sportradar will not have to pay for the assets.
Instead, Endeavor plans to pay $125m to Sportradar, along with up to $100m in cash prepayments to certain sports rightholders.
However, the deal is now under the microscope of the CMA, with the non-ministerial government department inviting comments on the acquisition from interested parties.
An update from the authority read: “The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction, if carried into effect […] may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.”
The CMA said the comment submissions would form the first part of its information-gathering process before potentially launching a formal investigation.
The comment period opens today, 11 July, before concluding on 25 July.
IMG Arena’s existing portfolio includes relationships with 70 rightsholders covering 39,000 official data events as well as 30,000 streaming events across 14 sports, with coverage of major tennis Grand Slam events and the UFC, PGA Tour and MLS.
Sportradar said the acquisition of these assets would immediately have a significant impact on both revenue and adjusted EBITDA margins.
It is not the first industry acquisition to spark concern from the CMA, with Spreadex’s takeover of UK spread betting rival Sporting Index also under scrutiny from the authority.
Spreadex first agreed terms with FDJ United, Sporting Index’s then-owners, in November 2023, before the CMA opened its investigation into the deal a month later, eventually launching a merger inquiry in February 2024.
The CMA found “significant competition concerns” due to the deal, and asked Spreadex to divest Sporting Index in November 2024.
However, in March 2025, the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled in favour of Spreadex, with the CMA’s order for the company to divest the Sporting Index assets annulled.
The watchdog was instructed to “reconsider and make a new decision or decisions” concerning the case.
That said, as recently as last month, the CMA confirmed it had “provisionally found competition concerns as part of its remittal investigation” into Spreadex’s purchase of Sporting Index’s B2C arm.
The CMA outlined these concerns, noting that the deal breaches the terms of the Enterprise Act 2002.
Sportradar declined to comment when approached by EGR.
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UK competition watchdog launches invitation to comment from interested parties regarding the transaction as part of information gathering process before potential formal investigation
The post CMA opens inquiry into Sportradar’s acquisition of IMG Arena first appeared on EGR Intel.