The Eurosport Group has signed a significant long-term agreement with international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media to consolidate its position as the reference channel for wintersports. Eurosport viewers will be able to enjoy the most comprehensive coverage of wintersports events LIVE on TV and digital through to season 2020/2021.
Europe’s leading sports entertainment group will continue to offer LIVE coverage of all FIS Alpine, Cross-Country, Nordic Combined, Ski Jumping, Freestyle and Snowboard World Cup competitions for five seasons from 2016/17 onwards.
In line with Eurosport’s current strategy of expanding exclusivity in pillar sports and for local markets, the broadcaster has secured exclusive coverage in the UK, France,Poland, Romania and Spain for all disciplines of the FIS Alpine and Nordic Skiing World Cup races and in Sweden for the American and Canadian FIS Alpine Ski World Cup races.
By retaining the rights to cover the 2019 and 2021 FIS Alpine and Nordic Skiing World Championships and the 2015 and 2017 FIS Snowboard and Freestyle Skiing World Championships in the agreement the channel will provide coverage of over 200 events every season.
Jean-Thierry Augustin, CEO of the Eurosport Group, said: “Eurosport demonstrates once more a clear commitment to invest in its role as the channel of reference for wintersports. On a strategic level Eurosport continues to secure long-term agreements across its rights portfolio and to increase local exclusivities to provide the best content offer possible for viewers and commercial partners.”
Philippe Blatter, President & CEO of Infront Sports & Media commented: “We are satisfied to announce this major agreement, as Eurosport represents a real occasion for wintersports to get the visibility they deserve around the world. We deem this has been the right choice to reach a wide audience, thanks to the traditional and digital media the broadcaster owns. This will increase the value of wintersports and widen the number of fans and people who practice them.”
The events will feature on Eurosport and Eurosport 2, as well as on Eurosport Asia-Pacific. In Europe alone over 600 hours of broadcasting will be scheduled per season for the FIS World Cups on Eurosport’s channels. The FIS World Cup events will also be available to watch on mobile, tablet, PC and connected TV through Eurosport’s online simulcast service, Eurosport Player.