Learfield Sports Reportedly Up For Sale, Prompted By Increase In Value Of Rights Deals

Learfield Sports is “putting itself up for sale,” according to Josh Kosman of the N.Y. POST. Sources said that Learfield is working with N.Y.-based investment bank Moelis & Co. and is "just kicking off its sale process.” A source said that the company is “seeking a 10 times or better EBITDA multiple.” A source said that the reasons for the sale are the “ever higher prices of rights deals and the possibility that the 38-year-old company was getting priced out of the market.” Kosman notes the SEC in recent weeks “bought back television rights from Learfield and signed a 20-year deal with ESPN in which the network will sell a bundled package of TV, digital and syndication rights in the new SEC Network” (N.Y. POST, 6/12).