Eurosport signs three-year partnership with new ATP Geneva Open

Eurosport announces that it has secured a three year agreement to be the European broadcaster of the new ATP Geneva Open. The partnership will run from 2015 to 2017. The deal includes exclusive* TV and digital rights across all 54 territories covered by Eurosport in Europe.

The Geneva Open has joined the ATP World Tour 250 series and will be played on outdoor clay courts at the Tennis Club de Genève at the Parc des Eaux-Vives. The tournament returns to the Swiss city for the first time since 1991. From 1980 to 1991 it was played and won by some of the greats from the sport including Björn Borg, Mats Wilander and Thomas Muster. The 2015 Geneva Open will take place from 17 to 23 May.

2014 Australian Open Champion Stan Wawrinka is already committed to play in 2015, 2016 and 2017 editions. He will be joined by other world-class players looking to fine-tune their performance on clay in preparation for the French Open which begins the following week.

Today’s announcement is the perfect complement to Eurosport’s unrivalled Grand Slam tennis coverage, which includes the Australian, French and US Opens. This coverage is enhanced by a selection of ATP and WTA tournaments delivering fans a total of 2,300 hours of TV coverage on Eurosport and Eurosport 2, including over 1,000 hours live.

*non-exclusive coverage in Switzerland

Eurosport renews TV and digital rights to cycling’s premier event Vuelta a España until 2020

Eurosport today announced that it has extended its partnership with the Vuelta a España, the third and last Grand Tour of the cycling season, by securing all TV and digital rights of the event until 2020.

 

The agreement, which was renewed through the EBU following a tender process,  incorporates all 54 territories covered by Eurosport in Europe, and features exclusive rights in key markets including France, Germany, Italy, Poland and UK*.

 

The premier cycling event will continue to be covered live on the Eurosport channel, which is also available on PC, mobile, tablet and connected TV via Eurosport Player, Eurosport’s online subscription service.

 

The deal reinforces Eurosport’s status as the ”Home of Cycling” and its unrivalled coverage of over 40 events every season. Eurosport’s cycling portfolio includes the three Grand Tours and the leading one day and multi-day stage races, delivering fans a total of 1,800 hours of TV coverage on Eurosport and Eurosport 2.

 

Jean-Thierry Augustin, CEO, Eurosport Group commented: “As we enter the twentieth year in our broadcast of the Vuelta a España, I am delighted to extend our long-term partnership with this great property until 2020. Vuelta a España and cycling is in our DNA and, in 2014, 100 million different European viewers** enjoyed the sport on our TV channels. We are pleased to support and contribute to the growth of this premium property across Europe and look forward to bringing all the action and drama to the fans.”

 

*coverage is exclusive in the UK on the live broadcast only

**Sources: AGF/GfK, BARB, SKO, MMS, TNS-Gallup, Kantar Media, AGB NMR, Armadata/Kantar- Techedge

Discovery Communications strengthens global sports strategy with two new leadership appointments

Discovery Communications today announced two new executive appointments that will further strengthen the company’s global sports expertise and strategy. Jean-Thierry Augustin has been named President, Sports Strategy & Development in a newly created position at Discovery Networks International, and Peter Hutton has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Eurosport.

 

Augustin, who previously held the position of CEO at Eurosport, will report directly to JB Perrette, President of Discovery Networks International and continue to be based in Paris. Augustin will work closely with Discovery’s international leadership team and Peter Hutton to create a compelling sports business development strategy that utilizes sports as a game-changing asset and drives new growth globally.

 

Hutton joins Eurosport from MP & Silva Group, where he held the post of Co-Chief Executive Officer. As Chief Executive Officer of Eurosport, Hutton will oversee the negotiation of sports rights and lead Eurosport’s content strategy to bring renewed focus to programming, production, promotion and platforms. Hutton will take advantage of Discovery’s local infrastructure and global platforms to maximize Eurosport’s value across more than 70 countries and in 20 languages. Hutton also will report to Perrette and will be based in Paris, with a start date of March 1, 2015.

 

Perrette said, “As we approach the one year anniversary of Discovery’s acquisition of Eurosport in May, our focus is now on unlocking the full value of our must-have sports content for the entire Discovery Communications portfolio to benefit our advertisers, affiliates, audiences and shareholders around the world.”

 

Perrette continued, “Jean-Thierry has been at the helm of Eurosport for a number of years during which he has proved to be a tremendous commercial leader and this new role will harness his expertise to build Discovery’s global sports strategy and expertise. Similarly, Peter has excelled in the sports media business.  With extensive experience in Europe, Asia and Middle East, and strong relationships with broadcasters and rights holders, he is the perfect executive to strengthen Eurosport’s position as a global leader in sports.  I am excited to work with both Jean-Thierry and Peter as we take our business to an exciting new level.”

 

In May 2014, Discovery increased its interest in Eurosport International to 51% from 20% as part of a larger strategic partnership with TF1 Group that began in December 2012. TF1 Group continues to be the majority shareholder of Eurosport France, in which Discovery holds a 20% equity stake.

Jean-Thierry Augustin: Quote and Background

“It has been a privilege to lead Eurosport over the past several years. I look forward to applying my experience and working with JB and Peter to help utilize sports content to drive growth, and create long-term relationships with key partners throughout Discovery’s global business,” said Augustin.

 

Augustin joined Eurosport in 2001 as Regional Distribution Director and following various promotions was named Chief Executive Officer, Eurosport Group in June 2013. During this period, Augustin played a key role in the launch of Eurosport 2, which is available in 74 million homes in 51 countries and broadcasts 2,300 hours of live action every year. He also oversaw development of Europe’s number-one online sports destination, Eurosport.com which comprises 15 websites in 11 languages, and Eurosport Player, which provides live streaming of Eurosport and Eurosport 2 channels as well as catch-up TV around selected events in 35 markets.

 

Peter Hutton: Quote and Background

“After over 30 years in sports media, I can’t think of a better brand to lead than Eurosport,” commented Hutton. “I look forward to building on the great work of Jean-Thierry Augustin and his team to ensure that we further improve our line-up of world class sports relevant to our audiences throughout Europe and Asia. With the support of the Discovery teams around the world, we will deliver the best possible global and local events to our viewers and to our commercial partners.”

 

During his time at MP & Silva Group, Hutton oversaw a portfolio of rights that included the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championships, Formula 1, Grand Slam tennis and Serie A football. He helped launch joint venture channels with Be In Sports in Asia, and took the business into the sponsorship market and key local rights, such as Belgian and Polish football. Before joining MP & Silva Group, Hutton’s previous roles included Managing Director ESPN Star Sports, Senior Vice President Fox International Channels Sport, as well as COO and one of the founders of Middle East and Asian broadcaster Ten Sports.

Source: Eurosport press release

Eurosport signs FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ in FIFA multi-event deal

Eurosport has acquired the live TV and digital rights of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ as part of a package of nine FIFA competitions held over 2015 and 2016.

The deal signed with FIFA also includes full rights to the Men’s and Women’s FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cups, as well as, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, FIFA Futsal World Cup and Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup. Every tournament will be broadcast across all Eurosport’s European territories*.

The deal confirms Eurosport is the leading channel in Europe for women’s football, youth football and futsal. The FIFA competitions enhance Eurosport’s offer, which already features the best competitons at European level with the annual UEFA European U-17 and U-19 Championships (men and women), 2016 UEFA European Futsal Championships and 2017 UEFA Women’s EURO.

Under the FIFA deal, Eurosport will cover:

2015

–       FIFA Women’s World Cup* in Canada from 6 June – 5 July

–       FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand from 30 May – 20 June

–       FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile from 17 October – 8 November

–       FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Portugal

–       Blue Stars / FIFA Youth Cup in Switzerland

2016

–       FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in South Africa

–       FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan

–       FIFA Futsal World Cup in Colombia

–       Blue Stars / FIFA Youth Cup in Switzerland

*ex Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ draw, broadcast live on Eurosport 2 on Saturday 6 December, decided the six groups the 24 teams will compete in, next June. The qualified teams include former World Champions Germany (2007 & 2003), USA (1999 and 1991), Norway (1995), current title holders Japan, as well as, France, Sweden, England, Brazil and China.

The most highly-anticipated clash of the first round is likely to be in Group D, between the USA and Sweden, third at the 2011 World Cup. France, serious challengers for the title, will face England in Group F.

Group A: Canada, China PR, New Zealand, Netherlands

Group B: Germany, Côte d’Ivoire, Norway, Thailand

Group C: Japan, Switzerland, Cameroon, Ecuador

Group D: Unites States, Australia, Sweden, Nigeria

Group E: Brazil, Korea Republic, Spain, Costa Rica

Group F: France, England, Colombia, Mexico

Eurosport has broadcast every FIFA Women’s World Cup since 2003 with record audiences in 2011 when the tournament attracted over 57m different European viewers on Eurosport and Eurosport 2. (Source: Eurosport press release)

Eurosport consolidates wintersports offer with rights extensions and key exclusivities

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.