Granada Takes Stake In Arsenal

Granada Media has this morning announced the acquisition of a 5% stake in Arsenal Football Club. A £47m investment will grant Granada the status of exclusive commercial services and media rights agent for the team.

The deal will also include a 50% interest in a new joint venture company, AFC Broadband, which will create a global portal for Arsenal fans. The one-stop shop will include delayed coverage of the club’s Premiership matches across all online and broadband media. Arsenal.co.uk will be relaunched as Arsenal.com.

Arsenal is to use the money to fund the building of a new stadium in North London, and on approval of the new home for the team, Granada will be given the option to acquire an additional 4.99% of the club.

Commenting on the agreement Steve Morrison, CEO of Granada Media, said: “This new joint venture is central to Granada’s strategy to offer innovative, enriched and personalised internet and broadband services to affinity communities, for example fiercely loyal football fans around the world, bringing them closer to their passion, such as Arsenal FC.”

Granada recently created a broadband fan portal for Liverpool Football Club, in which it has a 10% stake (see Granada Teams Up With Liverpool To Create Broadband Fan Portal).

Granada Media: 020 7620 1620