The broadcast of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series, featuring cross-country, downhill, and enduro disciplines, is a minor detail, not to mention a drop in the bucket in a takeover poker game involving hundreds of billions of dollars and media power in the US. Nevertheless, it is essential for mountain bike racing. The good news for those who enjoy watching the World Cup broadcasts or even depend on them economically: Paramount Skydance promises to take over Warner Bros. Discovery WBD completely. The latter has described the offer as superior and has effectively accepted it. Netflix, which had initially made a takeover bid, only wanted to keep the streaming service and the film studios. Netflix wanted to resell the TV stations, including CNN and WBD with its subsidiary WBD Sports. If that had happened, the broadcast of the MTB World Series would probably have been even more uncertain than it is now.

Pinkbike is already convinced that WBD Sports will broadcast the World Cup races and World Championships in 2026 at the latest. There has been no official confirmation of this as yet. Ride's request to the UCI has so far gone unanswered. Deal still a long way off The takeover still has to overcome several legal hurdles in the US and possibly also in Europe. In addition, Paramount does not have the liquid funds to buy the majority of shares. According to experts, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, the father of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, will have to tap into his enormous fortune in one form or another. According to media reports, the approvals could take up to 18 months. The purchase offer stands at $111 billion. In the US, the takeover is also seen as a political maneuver by the Trump camp (to which the Ellisons belong) to bring liberal media outlets into line. WBD owns CNN, a news channel critical of Trump. The broadcast of the UCI MTB World Series is nothing more than a by-product. The World Cup circus will have to take it as it comes.