NEW YORK AND LONDON – FEBRUARY 3, 2022: Discovery, Inc. HAS TODAY CONFIRMED that it has entered into exclusive discussions with BT Group to create a new sport venture in the UK by combining its Eurosport business in the UK and Ireland with BT Sport. The companies aim for the 50:50 Joint Venture to be operational in 2022 pending a definite agreement and regulatory approval.
The proposed UK venture would bring together BT Sport and Eurosport UK, which have extensive portfolios of premium sport rights, including the Olympic Games, Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, cycling Grand Tours, tennis Grand Slams, the winter sport World Cup season and Premiership Rugby.
“We are excited about this opportunity with BT Group to offer consumers a stronger and simplified combined sport offering in the U.K. and Ireland, and, more broadly, to advance our strategy of bringing sports and entertainment to more consumers on the platform of their choice,” said JB Perrette, President & CEO of Discovery Streaming & International. “We are aligned with BT Group on a shared vision to maximize the value and appeal of our respective UK sport assets, and we look forward to concluding a deal in the coming weeks.”
Discovery, Inc. entered the global sports media business in 2014 with its acquisition of Eurosport. Today, Discovery’s sports business – under the Discovery Sports banner – produces and distributes content to 130 million unique individuals a month across more than 200 markets and 20 languages outside the U.S. Discovery Sports’ consumer brands include Eurosport, Global Cycling Network (GCN), Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN), Golf Digest and GOLFTV powered by PGA TOUR, as well as sports programming and content on discovery+ and Discovery’s free-to-air TV networks in Europe. The leading sports news and video site, Eurosport.com and its local country versions, engages audiences of more than 50 million sports fans per month.
REACTION AND ANALYSIS
POTENTIAL DEAL COULD PROVIDE GENUINE RIVAL TO SKY IN THE UK MARKETPLACE
AND ELEVATE EUROSPORT AS A SPORTS MEDIA BRAND WORLDWIDE
-AN UNPARALLELED POTENTIAL SPORTS RIGHTS PORTFOLIO IN THE UK-
-POTENTIAL TO MAKE DISCOVERY+ ONE OF THE BIGGEST STREAMING PLATFORMS IN UK-
AND ELEVATE EUROSPORT AS A SPORTS MEDIA BRAND WORLDWIDE
-AN UNPARALLELED POTENTIAL SPORTS RIGHTS PORTFOLIO IN THE UK-
-POTENTIAL TO MAKE DISCOVERY+ ONE OF THE BIGGEST STREAMING PLATFORMS IN UK-
TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PENDING CONCLUSION OF A DEAL WHICH WILL SEE THE MERGER OF EUROSPORT AND BT SPORT IN THE UK IS A HUGE MOMENT FOR SPORTS BROADCASTING IN THE UK. IT WILL MOST LIKELY TO SEE EUROSPORT EXPANDED THROUGH DISCOVERY+ AND MADE AVAILABLE TO BT INTERNET AND EE SUBSCRIBERS (TBC).
WITH DISCOVERY+ HAVING A GLOBAL PLATFORM IT IS MORE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE THAN BT SPORT CURRENTLY IS VIA SKY, OR SKY SPORTS IS, AND ALSO UNDERCUTS THE LIKES OF ESPN PLAYER AND PREMIER SPORTS, MAKING WORLD CLASS SPORT AND WORLD CLASS SPORTS BROADCASTING AVAILABLE TO FAR MORE PEOPLE ACROSS THE UK.
OF COURSE PRICING MAY CHANGE BUT CURRENTLY DISCOVERY+ INCLUDING SPORTS IS AVAILABLE IN THE UK FOR £6.99 PER MONTH OR £59.99 PER YEAR. THIS IS INCREDIBLE VALUE AND ALSO PROVIDES THE VIEWER WITH A NUMBER OF VIEWING OPTIONS FROM OTHER CHANNELS SUCH AS DISCOVERY, ANIMAL PLANET, MOTORTREND, TLC, QUEST, ID, QUEST RED, FOOD NETWORK, REALLY, HGTV, DMAX, SCI, TURBO, DISCOVERY HISTORY AND MAGNOLIA NETWORK, ALONGSIDE EUROSPORT 1 AND 2 (WHICH WILL LIKELY BE EXPANDED TO 5 CHANNELS IF YOU ADD THE REBRANDED BT SPORT 1, 2 AND 3 TO IT).
THE PLATFORM OFFERS ALMOST ALL OF ITS CONTENT ADDITIONALLY ON DEMAND, AND IS THE STREAMING HOME OF THE MAJOR EVENTS CURRENTLY SHOWN BY EUROSPORT SUCH AS THE OLYMPIC GAMES AND AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS. THIS DEAL THOUGH, WHEN APPROVED, WILL ADD EVEN MORE BREADTH AND DEPTH TO THE SPORTS OFFERING ON THE PLATFORM AND OFFER THE VIEWER AN UNRIVALLED CHOICE OF SPORTS BROADCASTING.
WITH DISCOVERY+ HAVING A GLOBAL PLATFORM IT IS MORE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE THAN BT SPORT CURRENTLY IS VIA SKY, OR SKY SPORTS IS, AND ALSO UNDERCUTS THE LIKES OF ESPN PLAYER AND PREMIER SPORTS, MAKING WORLD CLASS SPORT AND WORLD CLASS SPORTS BROADCASTING AVAILABLE TO FAR MORE PEOPLE ACROSS THE UK.
OF COURSE PRICING MAY CHANGE BUT CURRENTLY DISCOVERY+ INCLUDING SPORTS IS AVAILABLE IN THE UK FOR £6.99 PER MONTH OR £59.99 PER YEAR. THIS IS INCREDIBLE VALUE AND ALSO PROVIDES THE VIEWER WITH A NUMBER OF VIEWING OPTIONS FROM OTHER CHANNELS SUCH AS DISCOVERY, ANIMAL PLANET, MOTORTREND, TLC, QUEST, ID, QUEST RED, FOOD NETWORK, REALLY, HGTV, DMAX, SCI, TURBO, DISCOVERY HISTORY AND MAGNOLIA NETWORK, ALONGSIDE EUROSPORT 1 AND 2 (WHICH WILL LIKELY BE EXPANDED TO 5 CHANNELS IF YOU ADD THE REBRANDED BT SPORT 1, 2 AND 3 TO IT).
THE PLATFORM OFFERS ALMOST ALL OF ITS CONTENT ADDITIONALLY ON DEMAND, AND IS THE STREAMING HOME OF THE MAJOR EVENTS CURRENTLY SHOWN BY EUROSPORT SUCH AS THE OLYMPIC GAMES AND AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS. THIS DEAL THOUGH, WHEN APPROVED, WILL ADD EVEN MORE BREADTH AND DEPTH TO THE SPORTS OFFERING ON THE PLATFORM AND OFFER THE VIEWER AN UNRIVALLED CHOICE OF SPORTS BROADCASTING.
DISCOVERY AND EUROSPORT BECAME THE PAN-EUROPEAN HOME OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES AND WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES WHEN THEY SIGNED A DEAL WITH THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE IN 2015, MAKING THEM THE HOME OF THE OLYMPICS ACROSS EUROPE.
IN THE UK BBC HAVE SIGNED A SUB-LICENSING DEAL TO SHOW APPROXIMATELY 300 HOURS OF LIVE COVERAGE FREE-TO-AIR, WITH EUROSPORT AND DISCOVERY+ SHOWING EVERYTHING LIVE AS IT HAPPENS FROM EVERY EVENT.
THIS SHOWPIECE EVENT IS A TV RATINGS BOOST AND HAS ATTRACTED PEOPLE TO SUBSCRIBE TO EUROSPORT AND DISCOVERY+, AND WILL NO DOUBT BE ONE OF A FEW MAJOR PLUS POINTS FOR BT IN THIS DEAL.
IN THE UK BBC HAVE SIGNED A SUB-LICENSING DEAL TO SHOW APPROXIMATELY 300 HOURS OF LIVE COVERAGE FREE-TO-AIR, WITH EUROSPORT AND DISCOVERY+ SHOWING EVERYTHING LIVE AS IT HAPPENS FROM EVERY EVENT.
THIS SHOWPIECE EVENT IS A TV RATINGS BOOST AND HAS ATTRACTED PEOPLE TO SUBSCRIBE TO EUROSPORT AND DISCOVERY+, AND WILL NO DOUBT BE ONE OF A FEW MAJOR PLUS POINTS FOR BT IN THIS DEAL.
FOOTBALL WILL BE AT THE HEART OF THE MERGED BT SPORT AND EUROSPORT, WITH THE CROWN JEWEL - THE PREMIER LEAGUE - OFFERING SUBSCRIBERS 52 EXCLUSIVELY LIVE MATCHES FROM THE MOST-WATCHED LEAGUE IN WORLD FOOTBALL.
WITH THE RESOURCES OF DISCOVERY AND BT IT COULD POTENTIALLY SEE EUROSPORT BID FOR MORE MATCHES WHEN THE NEXT TV RIGHTS DEAL BEGINS IN 2025.
THE PREMIER LEAGUE WOULD BE AN ENORMOUS PULL FOR SUBSCRIBERS TO DISCOVERY+.
ASIDE FROM THE PREMIER LEAGUE, BT SPORT CURRENTLY BROADCASTS SERIE A FROM ITALY, LIGUE 1 FROM FRANCE AND THE PRIMERA LIGA FROM PORTUGAL, WHICH IS AN IDEAL FIT FOR EUROSPORT, AND DISCOVERY+ COULD OFFER EVEN MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOW GAMES.
WITH THE RESOURCES OF DISCOVERY AND BT IT COULD POTENTIALLY SEE EUROSPORT BID FOR MORE MATCHES WHEN THE NEXT TV RIGHTS DEAL BEGINS IN 2025.
THE PREMIER LEAGUE WOULD BE AN ENORMOUS PULL FOR SUBSCRIBERS TO DISCOVERY+.
ASIDE FROM THE PREMIER LEAGUE, BT SPORT CURRENTLY BROADCASTS SERIE A FROM ITALY, LIGUE 1 FROM FRANCE AND THE PRIMERA LIGA FROM PORTUGAL, WHICH IS AN IDEAL FIT FOR EUROSPORT, AND DISCOVERY+ COULD OFFER EVEN MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOW GAMES.
UEFA AND EUROSPORT SEEMS A VERY GOOD FIT, AND THE CURRENT RIGHTS HOLDERS FOR THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, EUROPA LEAGUE AND EUROPA CONFERENCE ARE BT SPORT.
THIS MERGER WOULD MAKE GAMES AVAILABLE ON EUROSPORT AND DISCOVERY+, ANOTHER REASON TO SUBSCRIBE TO DISCOVERY+ AND POTENTIALLY SAVING THE VIEWER FROM HAVING TWO SUBSCRIPTIONS IN ADDITION TO SKY.
THIS MERGER WOULD MAKE GAMES AVAILABLE ON EUROSPORT AND DISCOVERY+, ANOTHER REASON TO SUBSCRIBE TO DISCOVERY+ AND POTENTIALLY SAVING THE VIEWER FROM HAVING TWO SUBSCRIPTIONS IN ADDITION TO SKY.
THE DEAL ALSO PROVIDES A POTENTIAL HOME FOR MOTORSPORT, WITH BT AND DISCOVERY OWNING THE RIGHTS TO ALMOST EVERY RELEVANT MOTORSPORTS SERIES OTHER THAN FORMULA 1, INDYCAR AND NASCAR.
MOTOGP, DAKAR RALLY AND WRC ALREADY HAVE A HOME ON BT SPORT, AND EUROSPORT COVERS LE MANS 24, WEC, EXTREME E, WORLD SUPERBIKES AND BRITISH SUPERBIKES.
DISCOVERY+ ALSO IS HOME TO MOTORTREND AND THIS DEAL MAY AFFORD THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRODUCE RELEVANT ADDITIONAL CONTENT AND DRIVE SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM MOTORSPORT FANS ACROSS THE UK.
MOTOGP, DAKAR RALLY AND WRC ALREADY HAVE A HOME ON BT SPORT, AND EUROSPORT COVERS LE MANS 24, WEC, EXTREME E, WORLD SUPERBIKES AND BRITISH SUPERBIKES.
DISCOVERY+ ALSO IS HOME TO MOTORTREND AND THIS DEAL MAY AFFORD THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRODUCE RELEVANT ADDITIONAL CONTENT AND DRIVE SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM MOTORSPORT FANS ACROSS THE UK.
BT SPORT CURRENTLY HOLD THE RIGHTS TO AUSTRALIAN CRICKET WITH EXCEPTION OF THE BIG BASH LEAGUES, WHICH MEANS ALL ENGLAND SERIES IN AUSTRALIA ARE BROADCAST LIVE ON THE PLATFORM.
BT ALSO HAS THE RIGHTS TO NEW ZEALAND AND WEST INDIES CRICKET, AND AGAIN THIS MEANS ANY ENGLAND SERIES IN THESE TERRITORIES ARE BROADCAST EXCLUSIVELY LIVE.
BT ALSO HAS THE RIGHTS TO NEW ZEALAND AND WEST INDIES CRICKET, AND AGAIN THIS MEANS ANY ENGLAND SERIES IN THESE TERRITORIES ARE BROADCAST EXCLUSIVELY LIVE.
EUROSPORT AND DISCOVERY+ IS HOME TO THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN, FRENCH OPEN, LAVER CUP AND DAVIS CUP, AND WITH THE JOINT RESOURCES OF DISCOVERY AND BT YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD BID TO REGAIN THE RIGHTS TO THE ATP TOUR AND WTA TOUR WHEN THEY COME UP FOR GRABS IN 2024 AND 2025 RESPECTIVELY.
THE US OPEN, ALONG WITH THE ATP AND WTA IS CURRENTLY BROADCAST BY AMAZON PRIME VIDEO, BUT THAT DEAL EXPIRES IN 2022 AND EUROSPORT WOULD SURELY LOOK TO ACQUIRE THESE RIGHTS IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM THE HOME OF TENNIS ONCE MORE.
THE US OPEN, ALONG WITH THE ATP AND WTA IS CURRENTLY BROADCAST BY AMAZON PRIME VIDEO, BUT THAT DEAL EXPIRES IN 2022 AND EUROSPORT WOULD SURELY LOOK TO ACQUIRE THESE RIGHTS IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM THE HOME OF TENNIS ONCE MORE.
BT SPORT IS CURRENTLY THE HOME OF RUGBY IN THE UK WITH LIVE COVERAGE OF THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP, CHALLENGE CUP AND GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP.
THIS DEAL BRINGS RUGBY TO DISCOVERY+ AND EUROSPORT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WILL NO DOUBT ATTRACT PEOPLE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PLATFORM, AND ENABLE MORE MATCHES THAN EVER BEFORE TO BE OFFERED TO FANS.
THE RUGBY PORTFOLIO MAY WELL EXTEND IN THE FUTURE WITH THE LIONS SERIES UP FOR GRABS IN 2024.
THIS DEAL BRINGS RUGBY TO DISCOVERY+ AND EUROSPORT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WILL NO DOUBT ATTRACT PEOPLE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PLATFORM, AND ENABLE MORE MATCHES THAN EVER BEFORE TO BE OFFERED TO FANS.
THE RUGBY PORTFOLIO MAY WELL EXTEND IN THE FUTURE WITH THE LIONS SERIES UP FOR GRABS IN 2024.
CYCLING HAS BEEN A MAINSTAY OF EUROSPORT FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS AND IT IS THE HOME OF CYCLING ON UK TELEVISION, BROADCASTING LE TOUR DE FRANCE, ALL OTHER GRAND TOURS, MONUMENT AND DAY RACES ON THE UCI WORLD TOUR.
IT IS ALSO HOME TO THE NEWLY FORMED UCI TRACK CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, ALONG WITH THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN VARIOUS DISCIPLINES.
IT IS ALSO HOME TO THE NEWLY FORMED UCI TRACK CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, ALONG WITH THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN VARIOUS DISCIPLINES.
TODAY'S PRESS RELEASE DOES MENTION GOLF TV AND THE PGA TOUR, AND WHILST SKY HAVE STRUCK A DEAL WITH DISCOVERY AND THE DP WORLD TOUR I CAN SEE DISCOVERY HANGING ON TO GOLF'S BIGGEST BRAND.
YES, EUROSPORT WOULD NOT BE BROADCASTING THE MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS OR RYDER CUP, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE THE FEDEX CUP SEASON AND A LARGE NUMBER OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS IN THE SPORT.
THE PGA TOUR WOULD BE A PULL FOR POTENTIAL SUBSCRIBERS AND WOULD GIVE EUROSPORT A REGULAR PRIME TIME SPORTS PROPERTY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THERE'S EVERY CHANCE DISCOVERY WILL MAKE GOLFTV PART OF DISCOVERY+ IN THE FUTURE.
YES, EUROSPORT WOULD NOT BE BROADCASTING THE MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS OR RYDER CUP, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE THE FEDEX CUP SEASON AND A LARGE NUMBER OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS IN THE SPORT.
THE PGA TOUR WOULD BE A PULL FOR POTENTIAL SUBSCRIBERS AND WOULD GIVE EUROSPORT A REGULAR PRIME TIME SPORTS PROPERTY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THERE'S EVERY CHANCE DISCOVERY WILL MAKE GOLFTV PART OF DISCOVERY+ IN THE FUTURE.
EUROSPORT HAS ALSO BEEN THE HOME OF THE WINTER SPORT WORLD CUPS FOR 30 YEARS, BROADCASTING THE FIS ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP, SKI JUMPING WORLD CUP, CROSS-COUNTRY SKI WORLD CUP, BIATHLON WORLD CUP, SKELETON AND BOBSLEIGH WORLD CUPS AND THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
EUROSPORT ALSO SHOWS FIGURE SKATING FROM THE EUROPEAN AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
EUROSPORT ALSO SHOWS FIGURE SKATING FROM THE EUROPEAN AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
BT SPORT IS ALSO CURRENTLY THE HOME TO UFC IN THE UK AND THIS SPORT HAS A HUGE AND GROWING FOLLOWING, WITH ITS MAJOR EVENTS SET TO BE A HUGE ATTRACTION FOR SUBSCRIBERS TO DISCOVERY+ AND EUROSPORT.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST PLUSES FOR DISCOVERY AND EUROSPORT OF THIS DEAL IS POTENTIALLY THE ADDITION OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. FRANK WARREN IS CURRENTLY WITH BT SPORT AND THAT MEANS FIGHTS INVOLVING TYSON FURY COULD BE SHOWN ON DISCOVERY+ AS A PAY-PER-VIEW EVENT OR AS AN EVENT TO ATTRACT MORE SUBSCRIBERS.
EUROSPORT HAS BEEN THE HOME OF THE WORLD SNOOKER TOUR FOR A DECADE AND DISCOVERY+ ENABLES THEM TO SHOW MORE MATCHES LIVE THAN EVER BEFORE.
EUROSPORT AND DISCOVERY+ BROADCASTS THE WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP, THE MASTERS AND UK CHAMPIONSHIP WITH BBC ALSO SHOWING LIVE COVERAGE. IN ADDITION EUROSPORT AND DISCOVERY+ SHOW LIVE COVERAGE OF THE REMAINING EVENTS ON THE WORLD SNOOKER TOUR, SOME ARE ALSO SHOWN ON ITV AND FREESPORTS.
EUROSPORT AND DISCOVERY+ BROADCASTS THE WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP, THE MASTERS AND UK CHAMPIONSHIP WITH BBC ALSO SHOWING LIVE COVERAGE. IN ADDITION EUROSPORT AND DISCOVERY+ SHOW LIVE COVERAGE OF THE REMAINING EVENTS ON THE WORLD SNOOKER TOUR, SOME ARE ALSO SHOWN ON ITV AND FREESPORTS.
IN CONCLUSION THIS DEAL IS GREAT FOR BOTH DISCOVERY AND BT, BUT IT IS EVEN BETTER FOR THE CONSUMER AND SPORTS FAN.
