Amazon.com Inc. is said to be interested in buying 22 cable TV sports networks that are collectively worth an estimated $20 billion.

The online retail giant is one of several companies that have submitted offers for the channels as part of a recently launched bidding contest, CNBC reported today.

They’re being sold by Walt Disney Co. under its $71.3 billion deal to take over key parts of Twenty-First Century Fox Inc.’s operations. The U.S. Department of Justice has mandated that the company offload the channels within 90 days of closing the transaction.

The 22 networks up for grabs broadcast regional coverage of live sports events from 44 teams across Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League. The biggest prize is New York-based YES Network, which broadcasts Yankees baseball and Brooklyn Nets basketball games.

Amazon is reportedly facing quite a bit of competition. Sources said the Yankees, which co-own the network with Fox, plan to bid on the channel along with an “unknown” sovereign wealth fund. There are also about a half-dozen bidders that have placed offers for all 22 networks.

The group includes two broadcast TV companies, Tegna Inc. and Sinclair Broadcast Group. Both have a strong incentive to buy the channels: Live sports programming is a key important differentiator for traditional media players amid fierce competition from digital channels.

But even though the two broadcasters are likely to make generous bids, Amazon is seen as well-positioned to come out on top. Bloomberg LP analyst Robert Schiffman wrote in a note that “with ample borrowing capacity and cash on hand, Amazon’s ability to outpay other competitors for these assets should be easily attainable.”

Buying the channels would enable the company to boost its Amazon Prime Video streaming service, which it has been actively working to expand. Reuters reported in April that Amazon had agreed to pay the NFL $65 million a year for streaming rights to Thursday night games.

The company’s effort to establish a bigger presence in the media landscape is part of a broad, fast-paced expansion strategy spanning multiple industries. One of Amazon’s most notable moves this year was the acquisition of online pharmacy service PillPack Inc. for a reported $1 billion. Drugstore giants CVS Health Corp., Rite Aid Corp. and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. saw their stock value lose a combined $12.8 billion at the time of the deal’s announcement. 

Photo: Amazon