Eurosport’s end of an era in Britain casts doubts on future free-to-air coverage
Eurosport’s end of an era in Britain casts doubts on future free-to-air coverage
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Eurosport is to disappear from British screens, with the longtime home of events such as the Tour de France rebranding after 35 years. On 28 February, Eurosport 1 and 2 will be merged into TNT Sports, as the group owned by Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) reorganises its offering in the UK. It’s a move executives say will both boost and simplify choices for sports fans, but leaves unanswered questions as to what free-to-air offerings will still be available to viewers.
“Combining Eurosport and TNT Sports content in the UK and Ireland will enable us to offer a single, premium viewing experience for sports fans,” said Scott Young, senior vice-president at WBD Sports Europe. “We know audiences are looking for a slightly simpler journey on where to find the sport they love. This move will also continue to best deliver value for our leagues and federation partners, as we continue our 35 years plus commitment to investment and championing of sport on our screens.”.
Originally a co-production between Sky TV and the European Broadcasting Union when it was launched in 1989, Eurosport went on to become a staple of sports broadcasting in 50 European countries. The new plans apply only to the UK and Ireland, with channels continuing as before elsewhere and the same content being shared across both brands. “We’re not saying you’ll never see a Eurosport microphone,” says Young, but the aim is now to use the 45,000 hours of live sport in Eurosport’s archive to keep viewers watching TNT Sports.
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