Disney Takeover Biggest Threat To Team Sky Future

Cycling's top team facing possibility of axe in upcoming cost-cutting by new owners

As Team Sky battles with the public outcry following Chris Froome’s “adverse” drugs test, Dave Brailsford’s ground-breaking project faces a far greater existential threat over the coming months.

Media experts believe Disney’s $66bn (£49bn) takeover of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment businesses — which includes the single largest shareholding of Sky TV — “could mean the death of Team Sky”.

Faced with the rapidly escalating cost of sports TV rights such as Premier League football and delivering original programmes such as Game of Thrones, Sky’s new owner will likely take the knife to marketing costs.

And given the latest turn of events, culling Team Sky and its £31m annual budget could be an easy starting point.

“When you look at any corporate activity, there is always some kind of consolidation or cost-cutting. One of those areas is clearly marketing,” said media sector commentator Paolo Pescatore of CCS Insight.

“The biggest challenge is whether there is a return on [marketing] investment. In the case of Sky and Team Sky, Sky created this team at the right time, they have seen huge success in this investment.”