Tag: Eurosport

  • Sportz Interactive scores Blair Richardson to lead UK and Europe drive

    Sportz Interactive scores Blair Richardson to lead UK and Europe drive

    MUMBAI : When it comes to winning fans, Sportz Interactive isn’t just playing the game, it’s rewriting the rulebook. The sports tech powerhouse has roped in Blair Richardson as director of business development to lead its charge across the UK and Europe, two of the world’s most competitive sporting markets. Based in London, Richardson will be the playmaker shaping SI’s next big innings in fan engagement and digital transformation.

    Richardson’s career spans over two decades of sports, entertainment, and tech innovation. He cut his teeth in business development before a six-year stint at Reuters as commercial director for sport & entertainment, where he drove global content partnerships with Rolex, Nike, Adidas, Puma, FIFA, Sky Sports, the Barclays Premier League, and Beats by Dre. From pioneering rights clearance strategies to expanding into North America and Asia, he built a reputation for fusing commercial acumen with creativity.

    His entrepreneurial streak saw him co-found Chatsuite, an AI chatbot platform that built fan engagement products for FC Barcelona, BBC, Eurosport, Xbox, WWF, and Getty Images. Later roles at Monterosa, Hex Digital, and Rehab Agency cemented his profile as a digital innovator, delivering campaigns for Nike, NBA, Google, ITV, Meta, Warner Bros, and Formula 1. Speaking on his move, Richardson said: “Sportz Interactive has already proven itself as a global leader in digital transformation for sports organisations, and I’m excited to bring my background in sports content, AI innovation, and fan engagement to this next chapter.”

    SI SVP for international leagues & federations Raghav Mehta added: “His unique blend of sports and entertainment expertise, combined with a proven track record of driving innovation through partnerships with some of the world’s biggest brands, makes him the perfect leader to guide our growth in Europe and the UK.”

    With a client roster already boasting the International Olympic Committee, NBA, UEFA, Disney, Google, and Formula 1, SI’s European expansion isn’t just about new turf, it’s about redefining how sport meets storytelling in a digital-first world.

  • Warner Bros Discovery International launches WBD AIM

    Warner Bros Discovery International launches WBD AIM

    Mumbai: Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) International has launched WBD AIM (audience insights and measurement), a first-party data platform that enables advertisers to target their campaigns with new levels of precision, across several markets throughout EMEA, APAC and LatAm spanning its most engaged assets including CNN, Max, discovery+ and Eurosport.

    WBD AIM will broaden WBD’s audience targeting capabilities with access to the vast library of its first-party datasets from across the WBD portfolio and touchpoints, ranging from registration and behaviour to intent and purchase.  

    This offering also allows advertisers to place contextual ad placements with relevance, leading to an optimisation of campaigns and ROI for advertisers; key when audiences are overloaded with information and their attention is selective.

    According to industry reports, enhanced targeting and contextual capabilities backed by deeper audience insights would improve CTV with 86 per cent of consumers saying that personalised experience increases their brand loyalty.

    Via WBD AIM, advertisers will be able to access a series of actionable audience segments and campaign insights built from key events or moments based on datasets spanning; WBD’s streaming service discovery+, CNN, Food Network UK, and across WBD sport entities on Max and discovery+ throughout EMEA, in a summer which has just witnessed the first Olympic Games in Europe for 12 years.  

    WBD AIM will expand across the company’s much-loved brands and franchises to bring datasets from gaming, theatrical, consumer products and experiences into a single addressable solution alongside premium sport and entertainment.  

    The AIM technology, originally built and launched by CNN International Commercial in 2015, has been optimised for CNN’s global clients over the last nine years and is a proven success for advertising partners ahead of this wider rollout across WBD. WBD AIM now launches internationally, and in the UK & Ireland brands including Adidas, British Airways and Lavazza are already utilising the platform to better tailor their campaigns this summer.

    WBD’s continued focus is to partner with leading technology providers to develop products and services that will enhance measurement capabilities, brand lift, incremental reach and new data sources from the WBD portfolio, all of which will be housed under WBD AIM and bought to market.

    Warner Bros. Discovery Global & UK&I, head of ad sales & brand partnerships, Mike Rich said, “As media consumption undergoes a profound transformation, traditional targeting strategies are evolving. This fundamental shift underscores the importance for media owners to harness the power of first-party data and audiences.  

    “WBD AIM allows us to navigate these complexities and tailor content and marketing efforts with precision across multiple touchpoints, as has been seen through CNN International’s use of the AIM technologies to date. With Warner Bros. Discovery’s vast portfolio of brands, franchises and touchpoints, with everything from streaming to shopping, Wheeler Dealers to the Wizarding World and 90 Day Fiancé to the Olympic Games Paris 2024, we have a unique ability to gain deep understanding of audiences across the most diversified portfolio in the industry and bring this to brands and advertisers, whilst ensuring the best possible ad experience for our consumers.”

    CNN International Commercial SVP, digital revenue, strategy and operations Rob Bradley said, “AIM is a solution originally designed, developed and grown at CNN with demonstrated success over the last nine years. The launch of WBD AIM marks the next generation of a continually evolving platform that is now expanded across much of the WBD universe with added local expertise. It enables brands to access the unique data touch points we have across our unsurpassed portfolio. Through an enterprise-level global data infrastructure, it can power impactful targeting to match client objectives and KPIs locally, regionally, and globally with in-depth reporting that reveals powerful insights to drive real business decisions.”

  • Eurosport India and MotoGP extend partnership through 2026

    Eurosport India and MotoGP extend partnership through 2026

    Mumbai: Eurosport, a trailblazer in the Indian sports broadcasting landscape is delighted to announce a new three-year agreement with MotoGP until 2026 inclusive. In addition, Dorna also confirmed a new contract between MotoGP and the government of Uttar Pradesh reaffirming the Indian Grand Prix for the calendar from 2025.

    Eurosport India and MotoGP aim to leverage this momentum to elevate motorcycle racing in the country, and fans can look forward to more thrilling races, insightful commentary, and exclusive content in the upcoming seasons. With increasing viewership of MotoGP™ in India, the future of the sport across the subcontinent looks bright.

    The agreement also affirms Eurosport India as the exclusive home of MotoGP in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. This strategic move reflects Eurosport India’s commitment to fostering a vibrant motorsports community and delivering top-tier content.

    In a recent briefing, Warner Bros. Discovery managing director of South Asia Arjun Nohwar and  Dorna Sports chief sporting officer Carlos Ezpeleta the exclusive commercial rights holder of MotoGP, discussed the strategic importance of this partnership in boosting the motorsports culture in India.

    This renewal underscores Eurosport India’s role as a pioneering force in sports broadcasting and ensures that Eurosport India will be at the forefront of transforming race weekends into electrifying spectacles, setting new benchmarks for sports entertainment across India and the subcontinent.

    Warner Bros. Discovery managing director, South Asia  Arjun Nohwar shared his excitement about the renewed partnership: “Our collaboration with Dorna has brought thrilling MotoGP™ action closer to Indian audiences and captivated a new generation of motorsports fans. This success story highlights the effectiveness of our joint approach in delivering high-quality sports entertainment to a growing and passionate audience. MotoGP has a dedicated fan base in India, and we are committed to offering the best coverage and content.”

    MotoGP chief sporting officer Carlos Ezpeleta of rights holder Dorna Sports, stated, “India is a key market and fanbase for MotoGP. There are millions of motorcycles on the roads, making it vital for the MotoGP manufacturers and many of our partners, and we have a strong established audience that also offers huge opportunities for exponential growth.  We are excited to continue our partnership with Eurosport India and work together to maximise our potential in the world’s most populous country. Their dedication to delivering top-quality content and understanding of the Indian audience makes them the ideal partner, and we are confident this extended partnership will further enhance the MotoGP™ experience for fans across India.”

    Eurosport India has enlisted star cricketer Shikhar Dhawan to broaden its audience beyond the motorcycling community. Utilizing cutting-edge broadcast technology and in-depth programming, Eurosport India aims to provide an exceptional viewing experience for MotoGP™ fans across the subcontinent.

    Eurosport India’s comprehensive coverage of MotoGP™, including Moto2™ and Moto3™, will expand the sport’s reach and fanbase nationwide. 

  • Eurosport, DD Sports to broadcast the Indian Veteran Premier League from 23 Feb

    Eurosport, DD Sports to broadcast the Indian Veteran Premier League from 23 Feb

    Mumbai: Eurosport and DD Sports will broadcast the upcoming first edition of the much-awaited Indian Veteran Premier League (IVPL) which will be played from 23 February to 3 March 2024, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun.

    Organised by the Board for Veteran Cricket in India (BVCI) and managed by 100 Sports, the IVPL promises an extraordinary showcase of cricketing talent, bringing together International cricket sensations such as Virender Sehwag, Munaf Patel, Suresh Raina, Rajat Bhatia, Chris Gayle, Praveen Kumar, Yusuf Pathan, Herschelle Gibbs, Anrureet Singh, and many more.

    This proud moment for all veteran cricketers registered with BVCI will be part of the action towards fulfilling their dreams to play with international stars for the first time.

    Scheduled to run from 23 February to 3 March 2024, in the picturesque city of Dehradun, the IVPL will witness six strong teams vying for glory in this unique cricketing spectacle. The matches will be broadcasted live in India on the Eurosport channel and DD Sports.

    BVCI acting president and IVPL chairman Praveen Tyagi said, “We are excited for our first season which will be a highly attended event, and all live matches will be on Eurosport, DD Sports and too. We are trying to create one of the best leagues in  India after IPL, we have added the World’s best cricketers for the stature of Veteran Cricket, such as Chris Gayle, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina. This will  infuse a new energy for Veteran Cricket in India as well as it will work like magic for Veteran Cricketers, who are living their passion for playing with International Cricketers from the World.”

    The participating teams include VVIP Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan Legends, Red Carpet Delhi, Chhattisgarh Warriors, Telangana Tigers, and Mumbai Champions. Each team is a powerhouse of talent, as cricketing legends and regional stars come together to relive their passion for the game. Each team will have four to five iconic players from across the world.

    The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun is all set to be the epicenter of this cricketing extravaganza, providing fans with an unparalleled opportunity to witness their favorite cricketing icons in action. It will be a comprehensive viewing experience for fans as they can watch all the live action on Eurosport and DD Sports.

  • Impact Wrestling extends partnership with Eurosport India

    Impact Wrestling extends partnership with Eurosport India

    Mumbai: Anthem Sports & Entertainment’s professional wrestling promotion, Impact Wrestling, has partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery’s premium sports channel, Eurosport India. The partnership will ensure that viewers across India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka will continue to enjoy Impact’s world-class content.

    The agreement includes live broadcasts of all live Impact Plus specials, giving Eurosport India viewers the best seats in the house for all the intense matchups, over-the-top drama, and larger-than-life competitors that only Impact can provide. Additionally, the extension features the launch of the all-new Hindi-language series Pehlwani Patakha, which showcases highlights from Impact—the promotion’s weekly flagship program, as well as exclusive matches and definitive moments from Impact Wrestling’s groundbreaking history spanning more than two decades.

    Speaking about this partnership, Impact Wrestling executive VP Scott D’Amore said, “Impact Wrestling has amassed a large and loyal fan base around the world, and India has always been one of our most passionate markets.”

    “We are excited to renew our successful partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery and Eurosport India, headlined by a slate of exciting live specials and the debut of the new Hindi-language series Pehlwani Patakha. We understand the power of local language in sports broadcasting and this extended partnership reinforces our commitment to customising content that caters to the Indian market while putting the spotlight on some of our prominent Indian talent, including fast-rising Punjab native Bhupinder Gujjar,” he added.

    Warner Bros. Discovery South Asia head of Eurosport Ruchir Jain commented, “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Anthem Sports & Entertainment as the broadcasters for Impact Wrestling, which has received huge popularity in India through Eurosport. As one of the leaders in pro wrestling content in the Indian market, we are confident that our extension of the relationship with Impact wrestling is only going to bring more joy and happiness to our loyal fanbase.”

    Since its inception in 2002, Impact has established itself as one of the largest professional wrestling organisations in the world and the premier destination for wrestling fans across the globe, enlisting legendary performers such as Ric Flair, Sting, Kurt Angle, Kevin Nash, AJ Styles, and many more throughout its storied legacy. Impact’s current roster showcases a selection of world-class athletes led by Impact World Champion Josh Alexander and Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace, X-Division Champion “Speedball” Mike Bailey, World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson), Knockouts World Tag Team Champions VXT (Deonna Purrazzo & Chelsea Green), and Digital Media Champion Brian Myers. Other Impact superstars include Moose, Rich Swann, Sami Callihan, Matt Cardona, Eric Young, PCO, Rhino, and Trey Miguel; and the hard-hitting Knockouts Division, featuring Rosemary, Taya Valkyrie, Gisele Shaw, Mickie James, Mia Yim, and Su Yung.

    In addition to India and its subcontinent, Impact Wrestling programming is televised globally in 120 countries including on fellow Anthem properties AXS TV in the US and Fight Network in Canada, as well as digitally via YouTube, Facebook and its live streaming channels available on Pluto TV, Roku, Xumo and other free ad-supported platforms.

  • Eurosport India acquires broadcasting rights of inaugural GBPL 2022

    Eurosport India acquires broadcasting rights of inaugural GBPL 2022

    Mumbai: Eurosport India announced that it has acquired the broadcasting rights for the inaugural Grand Prix Badminton League (GPBL). The 2022 edition of the league will be played in Bengaluru from 12 August to 21 August.

    Eight teams representing different cities in Karnataka will have over 64 players from across the state under the mentorship of national badminton superstars, including the likes of two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, former world number one Kidambi Srikanth, Commonwealth gold medalist duo of Jwala Gutta & Ashwini Ponappa, along with World Championship bronze medalist B Sai Praneeth, Thomas Cup winning team India’s Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy.

    Announcing the broadcast partnership, Warner Bros. Discovery head of Eurosport India-South Asia Ruchir Jain said, “It’s the first time that our top players will be managing a team consisting of budding players and we are very eager to bring that action to the audience in India. GPBL is just a new beginning that is going to go on for a long time, and we are glad to be a part of this journey.”

    The eight teams competing in the GPBL are viz., Mandya Bulls, Mysore Panthers, Bengaluru Lions, Malnad Falcons, KGF Wolves, Mangalore Sharks, Bundipur Tuskers, and Kodagu Tigers, consisting of eight players each.

    Speaking about collaboration, GBPL commissioner and Bitsport CEO Prashanth Reddy commented, “Exciting times lie ahead as GPBL is finally set to begin soon. It is a league like never before as we will get to see many new players under the mentorship of Olympics players like Sindhu and other top national badminton players. Eurosport has been a go-to destination for many sports, and we found them to be the perfect broadcasting partner for GPBL.”

    Eurosport India is ready to bring the badminton action closer to the audience as each team will play the other team at least once, and the team with the most wins and scores on the leaderboard will get hold of the trophy, with the winners taking away Rs 24 lakh out of a total of Rs 60 lakh in terms of prize money.

  • Eurosport & Jio TV acquire broadcast rights for 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup

    Eurosport & Jio TV acquire broadcast rights for 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup

    Mumbai: Eurosport India, Discovery Network’s sports brand, and Jio TV Network have acquired the broadcast rights for AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022. India hosts the 20th edition of Asia’s showpiece women’s football tournament between 20 January and 6 February.

    Eurosport India will telecast the tournament on television. Meanwhile, Jio TV will stream the matches of the competition on its online platform and across its network.

    The Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which currently holds the media rights for all Asian Football Confederation (AFC) competitions in the Indian subcontinent, has accorded the PayTV broadcast rights to Eurosport India.

    The 20th edition of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 will feature 12 teams, which have been divided into three groups. Group A includes India, China PR, Chinese Taipei, and IR Iran, while Group B includes Australia, Thailand, Philippines, and Indonesia. Meanwhile, Japan, Korea Republic, Vietnam, and Myanmar have been slotted in Group C.

    The tournament will begin in a round-robin format where each team will face the other three teams of the group to secure a place in  the quarter-finals which will be held on 30 January. Hosts India will play their opening game against Iran on 20 January as they aim to gather home points to seal the top spot on an opening day.

    The sports event will act as the final stage of Asian qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. With Australia having already qualified as co-host, five more teams will qualify for the main event directly while two of them will progress to the inter-confederation play-offs.

  • Eurosport and GCN gear up for Tour de France 2021 coverage

    Mumbai: The iconic bike race speeds back onto screens this summer as the crème de la crème of cycling come together to battle for the yellow jersey. Capturing every stage, every sprint and every climb, Discovery-owned broadcaster Eurosport and its Global Cycling Network (GCN) are all set to live-stream 2021 Tour de France for viewers in more than 60 markets across Europe and Asia.

    With total exclusivity in 35 markets, Eurosport and GCN will offer live, on-demand and ad-free coverage of every stage of Le Tour via its digital platforms the Eurosport App and GCN+. For the first time, Discovery’s global streaming service discovery+ will also show all the action via Eurosport with Eurosport 1 also offering live broadcasts of every stage, it said in a statement.

    Eurosport and GCN’s international experts Sir Bradley Wiggins and Alberto Contador will offer LIVE insights to viewers in the UK and Spain respectively. Eurosport and GCN will bring fans closer to their favourite riders with a unique view of the action as its ‘Brad on a Bike’ feature returns for 2021 with Sir Bradley Wiggins and Bernie Eisel reporting live from the heart of the peloton. GCN+ will also offer subscribers exclusive content and original documentaries, both online and via the GCN App.

    Expressing his excitement about the upcoming event, Eurosport’s SVP – content and production, Scott Young said, “With the Grand Départ just days away, we are gearing up for the most comprehensive coverage of the Tour de France anywhere by harnessing the full power of Eurosport, GCN and discovery+ to excite and entertain viewers everywhere.”

    “We are looking forward to having Brad and Bernie back on the bike, offering viewers an innovative and unique insight to life in the peloton, as well as dissecting the drama of each stage through our local analysis and highlights shows. This year, the action does not end at the Champs-Élysées, and with the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 following just a week after we find out who takes home the yellow jersey, there is so much racing and so many stories to look forward to over the coming weeks,” Young added.

    The exclusive coverage begins on 24 June, before stage one begins from the French city, Brest – on 26 June.

  • Eurosport India to telecast 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship

    Eurosport India to telecast 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship

    New Delhi: Eurosport India has acquired the broadcasting rights of the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship, the primary feeder series to Formula 1.

    The FIA Formula 2 Championship will take place over eight action-packed weekends with two sprint races on Saturday, followed by an hour-long feature race on Sunday. The 2021 season of FIA Formula 2 began in Bahrain in March, and it will end in December in Abu Dhabi, visiting iconic circuits like Silverstone, Monza, and Monaco.

    Indian driver Jehan Daruvala is competing in the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship for the Carlin team. He currently sits in fourth place in the driver standings after a strong start this season.

    “Indians have been consuming motorsports like never before. It is undoubtedly a growing market. We have been expanding our offerings to suit the wide-ranging interests of our users. We hope the fans will have a thrilling time enjoying the sport first-hand,” said Eurosport India head & SVP – affiliate sales and product distribution, Asia – India sales & distribution at Discovery Inc Vijay Rajput.  

    Eurosport, across the globe, has a rich heritage of broadcasting some of the most noted motorsports championships including 24 Hours of Le Mans, MotoGP, the NASCAR Cup Series, the Dakar Rally, FIM WorldSuperbike Championship, Indycar, and Formula E.

  • Eurosport India amps up sports fans with docu-series blitz

    Eurosport India amps up sports fans with docu-series blitz

    NEW DELHI: Eurosport and Eurosport HD have rolled out a new campaign of sports documentaries titled 10 weeks 20 documentaries with the aim to enthral audiences with gripping human stories of sports personalities. 

    The campaign, spread across 10 weeks, with two new episodes premiering every weekend, is a step towards Eurosport India establishing itself as the home of world-class sports titles in a wide variety of sporting genres like cricket, golf, tennis, football, and boxing.

    The documentary blitz kickstarted earlier this month with the screening of the Emmy nominated sports docu-series Being Serena that follows pivotal moments in the life of former world No. 1 tennis champion, Serena Williams. 

    Being Serena was followed by What Killed Maradona which takes a deeper look into the extraordinary life of Diego Maradona, piecing together the trail of clues that caused his lonely and premature death in the Argentinian capital. 

    The ongoing Matchday – Inside FC Barcelona, an eight episodic docu-series, that tracks the FC Barcelona squad during the 2018/19 season premiered last weekend.

    Four other documentaries will come to Eurosports in May. 

    Anthony Joshua: The Road to Klitschko follows the IBF World Heavyweight champion over the course of two years as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career.

    Strokes of Genius depicts the legendary rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, while The Tiger Tales Show uses video and animation to tell new and illuminating stories about Tiger’s incredible impact on golf.

    The Beckham Effect examines the ups and downs of David Beckham’s six-year tenure with the LA Galaxy and its impact on the sports landscape. 

    June is reserved for cricket with two very interesting documentaries releasing one after another. Capturing Cricket: Steve Waugh in India follows the former Australian captain’s journey as he travels across India and captures the country’s obsession with the sport. Bodyline: The Ultimate Test is the story of one of the most well-known but perhaps least understood moments of conflict and controversy in the history of sports: the infamous Bodyline Test cricket series of 1932 and 1933.