Should the Disney-Fox deal go through, the belief is that Disney will "be able to run an auction" to divest the RSNs coming over in the deal, and that will "return a fairly instant price, and not just one party buying all 22, but from multiple parties bidding on different parts," according to David Faber of CNBC. Faber said of who could buy the RSNs, “It's been quiet so far, but one thing that seems certain regardless of whether Comcast comes back and offers more ... is you're going to see a large transaction take place." Faber said of the RSNs, "They're low-growth, slow-growth businesses, but they do generate a lot of cash flow. There might be some interest from private equity, and there might also be some interest from the likes of an AT&T or a Charter, maybe even Liberty. ... There may be certain companies for which it makes sense in a particular region, but not necessarily nationally." Faber also noted the proceeds from selling the RSNs "will impact the amount of leverage taken on" by either Disney or Comcast. Faber: "Comcast might be in a position to at least offer carriage agreements to some of the potential buyers. That could be something that would be a positive” (“Squawk on the Street,” CNBC, 7/3).
