Ice Cube's Big3 is preparing to submit a fully financed bid for the RSNs in the next round of Disney's auctionGETTY IMAGES
Private equity firm Centerbridge Partners is "considering backing" Ice Cube’s bid to buy the Fox RSNs being sold by Disney with a "significant equity contribution," according to sources cited by Ahmed & Soshnick of BLOOMBERG NEWS. Sources said that the Big3, founded by Ice Cube, is "preparing to submit a fully financed bid for the television channels in the next round of the long-running auction" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 3/4). In Detroit, Anthony Fenech noted FS Detroit is one of the RSNs up for sale, and Ilitch Holdings in October said that it was "exploring a deal" to create its own channel for the Tigers and Red Wings. Ilitch Holdings President & CEO Chris Ilitch said of the process, "We’re doing a lot of legwork on that front. And I think that picture will become even more clearer as Disney proceeds through the sale of all of the (networks) that they’re in the process of selling. So, we’re wired in, we’re working on it and I think that will be very insightful once Disney proceeds with the sale" (FREEP.com, 3/3).
