Though Universal, Paramount and 20th Century Fox were also interested in the footage, Sony had the inside track since the studio owns the music publishing rights to Jackson's songs.

The report said that AEG is also selling TV and video rights to the tribute concert featuring Justin Timberlake and other artists, scheduled for Aug 29, on what would have been Jackson's 51st birthday.

The singers will perform the songs that the King of Pop had planned, accompanied by the band that rehearsed with him.