Tokyo 2020: Eurosport secures pay-TV rights for France

Eurosport has been appointed as an Official Broadcaster of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 for France after securing pay-TV rights for the country.

Already ‘Home of the Olympics’ in 50 countries in Europe for Tokyo 2020, the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and Olympic Games Paris 2024, the latest deal comes as the result of a partnership between Discovery and the CANAL+ Group and France Télévisions.

It gives Eurosport the exclusive French pay-TV rights for Tokyo 2020 across its linear and digital streaming services. France Télévisions will remain the official free-to-air broadcaster for Tokyo 2020.

Andrew Georgiou, the president of Eurosport, said: “As the Home of the Olympics across Europe, we are delighted to complete our Olympic Games offering by bringing Eurosport’s comprehensive, localised and all-screen coverage to fans in France.

“Eurosport will take consumers and partners on every step of the Olympic Games journey, presenting the ultimate Olympics experience with every minute of Paris 2024, Beijing 2022 and now adding Tokyo 2020 in France. We look forward to the new opportunities Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will provide for our partners and business in France,” he added.

In a separate agreement announced earlier this year, France Télévisions will sub-license from Discovery the exclusive free-to-air audio-visual rights to the 2022 and 2024 editions of the Olympic Games.

In 2015, Discovery acquired the exclusive rights to all TV and multi-platform broadcast rights in Europe for the four Olympic Games in the 2018–2024 period. The €1.3 billion deal covers all platforms, including free-to-air television, subscription/pay-TV television, internet and mobile phone in all languages across 50 countries and territories on the European continent.

Consistent with IOC and local market requirements, Discovery has committed to broadcasting a minimum of 200 hours of the Olympic Games and 100 hours of the Olympic Winter Games on free-to-air television during the Games period. It will also sub-license a portion of the rights in many markets across Europe.

Eurosport will become an Official Broadcaster in France and in the UK from next year.