Free to air coverage of Olympic sports to be made available across Europe via new EBU streaming platform

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has launched a digital direct-to-consumer streaming platform that will show free-to-air coverage of a range of Olympic sports including athletics, gymnastics, skiing and swimming.

Eurovision Sport, the EBU’s first D2C service, will work alongside the union’s public service members to offer full minute-by-minute wrap-around coverage of events.

The first such streams will be for the World Aquatics Championships in Doha (Feb 2-18), the upcoming International Biathlon Union World Championships (Feb 7-18) in Czechia and next month’s World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow (March 1-3).

The EBU has partnered with Nagravision to develop and operate the Eurovision Sport platform.

Noel Curran, the EBU’s director general, said: “We firmly believe that sport should be for all. Our public service media members already bring many of the world’s leading sporting events to audiences free-to-air and this new digital platform will provide wrap-around coverage, so they never have to miss a moment of their favourite event.

“Currently only a third of sports fans have access to premium sports channels. Through its free streaming, we hope Eurovision Sport will democratise access to live sports coverage and help grow individual sports through visibility and engagement, encouraging greater participation and making sure we are all ‘united by sport’.”

“It is difficult and expensive for sports fans to find and access the sport they love and for Sports Federations to attract new audiences. This digital platform provides a solution to both of those problems.”

The EBU manages the media rights for 14 sports on behalf of public service media – delivering over 43,000 hours of sport a year through agreements with 28 international sports federations.

Commenting on the launch, Glen Killane, executive director for sport at the EBU, added: “With the support of public service media, we’ll be able to provide sports federations with an unrivalled shop window for their sports around the world.

“In this fragmented digital world, it is difficult and expensive for sports fans to find and access the sport they love and for Sports Federations to attract new audiences. This digital platform provides a solution to both of those problems. Together with our Members, the EBU will ensure that every second of our events is available to all for free in every country in Europe and around the world.

“Diversity and inclusion are also at the heart of this platform. The EBU and our Members have the most gender-balanced range of sports rights in the market and women’s sports will be a key part of our ongoing strategy. Eurovision Sport will be a trustworthy and safe place for women athletes and fans.”

Eurovision Sport is accessible now via desktop and mobile website – eurovisionsport.com – as an app for Android and iOS mobile and tablet devices, and, later in the year, via Connected TVs and selected free ad-supported streaming television channels.