ITV

Tag: Eurosport

  • Eurosport to telecast Billie Jean King Cup playoffs 2021

    Eurosport to telecast Billie Jean King Cup playoffs 2021

    NEW DELHI: Eurosport and Eurosport HD India will be telecasting Billie Jean Cup (BJK) Playoffs 2021 live in the country. In the playoffs, India will lock horns with Latvia, and this is for the first time that both these teams are facing each other in the competition. 

    Viewers in India can watch the game live on 16 April and 17 April from 8.30 PM and 4.30 PM IST respectively. 

    The Billie Jean King Cup, earlier known as the Fed Cup, is a team event for women’s tennis players and this is the first time that the Indian team has made it to the playoffs, courtesy of topping the Asia/Oceania Group 1 last year. A win will guarantee them a spot in the BJK Cup qualifiers for 2022 while the loser shall compete in their respective regional Group 1 event in 2022.

    Six-time doubles grand slam champion Sania Mirza will be spearheading the team and will be accompanied by her teammates Ankita Raina, Rutuja Bhosale, Zeel Desai, and Karman Kaur Thandi. Ankita Raina will be the highest-ranked Indian on display in the tie with a singles rank of 174 and a doubles rank of 96. The team will be captained by former India player Vishal Uppal. 

    On the other hand, Latvia will be playing with a full-strength team headed by world no. 52 Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion along with Anastasija Sevastova, a former world no. 11 who is now ranked 47th in the world. Diana Marcinkevica, Daniela Vismane, and PatricijaSpaka complete the five-member squad of Latvia. The captain of the team will be former Latvian men’s player Adrians Zguns.

    "Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world and has an ever-growing fan base in India for Women’s tennis. We are glad to have the opportunity to broadcast India’s BJK Cup playoffs which will add to our list of an interesting tennis line up. I am sure with stars like Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina in the mix it will be two days of hard-fought and exciting tennis action for our passionate viewers," said Eurosport India head & SVP – affiliate sales and product distribution, Asia – India sales & distribution at Discovery Inc Vijay Rajput. 

    Apart from BJK Cup, other tennis properties of Eurosport include the Australian Open, The Championships, Wimbledon, Roland-Garros, and US Open, and the ATP tour in 11 countries across Europe. 

  • Eurosport India to broadcast India’s FIFA friendly matches

    Eurosport India to broadcast India’s FIFA friendly matches

    KOLKATA: Eurosport and Eurosport HD India have bagged the broadcasting rights for the upcoming FIFA friendly matches of team India.

    The Indian national team is currently in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and will be playing two matches in the upcoming FIFA international friendlies on 25 and 29 March, where they take on Oman and the host country, UAE. The Indian side will be back in action after almost 16 months.

    Eurosport India head & Discovery Inc affiliate sales and product distribution, Asia – India sales & distribution SVP Vijay Rajput said, “We are extremely delighted to have an opportunity to bring the fans close to the Indian national football team as they take on national duty after a long time. The Indian National Football team has been making giant progress and we can surely look forward to two thrilling, action filled matches coming our way.”

    All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Kushal Das said, “I am happy to announce that we have associated with Eurosport India as the official broadcaster for the upcoming FIFA international friendly matches of Team India. They are one of the most promising broadcasters and we look forward to performing well and giving the audience spectacular matches in the coming days.”

    Schedule:

    India vs Oman – 25 March 2021, Maktoom Bin Rashid Stadium – 19:15 Hrs (7:15 pm) IST on Eurosport HD

    India vs UAE – 29 March 2021, Zabeel Stadium – 21:45 Hrs (9:45 pm) IST on Eurosport and Eurosport HD

  • Discovery launches enhanced marketing solutions offer across international markets

    Discovery launches enhanced marketing solutions offer across international markets

    KOLKATA: Discovery is unveiling an enhanced marketing solutions offer for brand partners across its international markets that truly unites the company’s sports offering with its real life entertainment portfolio into a single proposition. The move builds on the global launch of Discovery’s definitive real-life subscription streaming service, discovery+, in January.

    For the first time, this gives brand partners the opportunity to access all of Discovery’s rich content, on all of its platforms, across every global market, through one central buying point. Clients can now connect with Discovery’s entire audience through any of its offerings, including its leading multi-sport brand Eurosport and passion verticals such as the Global Cycling Network (GCN).

    As part of the redefined and integrated offer, Discovery has also reimagined its creative brand solutions capability, within its marketing offer, to enhance content opportunities available to international client partners. Discovery’s creative studio is already delivering new creative content together with some of the world’s biggest brands, helping them to connect with their audiences at scale in a deeper and more meaningful way.

    A suite of marketing solutions will be presented for brands to allow them to achieve engagement at scale across the widest portfolio of platforms including via digital content, social media, long and short-form content, product placement, sponsorship, and technology partnerships.

    Eurosport head – sports marketing solutions Mike Rich said, “Today is a monumental step for our sports offer as we fully unify our international marketing solutions and advertising-sales within the broader offering of the Discovery family. We believe this will further strengthen our market-leading proposition and help brands tell their stories at scale, supporting them to deliver against communications goals which positively impacts their business objectives.

    “As we head towards back-to-back Olympic Games and deliver the international rollout of discovery+, our partners can now fully take advantage of an enhanced marketing solutions offer which connects sport to the most comprehensive range of real life categories, including home, adventure, travel, food, nature, environment and science. This not only offers more ways to inform, fascinate and inspire, but allows brands to call on us to engage both the most passionate and broadest audiences they want to target.”

    Discovery’s marketing solutions and advertising-sales business already features global clients on its roster, including across its unrivalled sports offering:

    ·        Bridgestone, which became the headline sponsor of Eurosport’s Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 coverage.

    ·        Brand USA – extending Discovery’s partnership with the public-private organisation that promotes the United States as a premier travel destination, delivering marketing and advertising solutions across Discovery’s platforms, including to sports fans through Eurosport.

    ·        Goodyear, which agreed a multi-year partnership with Eurosport around its world-class motorsport coverage and promotion.

    ·        Zwift, which is Eurosport and GCN’s largest partner for its comprehensive cycling coverage across the widest range of events.

  • Eurosport India to bring New Japan Pro-Wrestling

    Eurosport India to bring New Japan Pro-Wrestling

    KOLKATA: Discovery’s Eurosport and Eurosport HD India are all set to captivate Indian pro-wrestling fans with high octane action from New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) with the dawn of the new year. The addition of NJPW expands Eurosport’s portfolio of pro-wrestling offerings with the exclusive India broadcast slated to begin 9 January 2021 from 6 pm, with weekly episodes to be telecast every Saturday and Sunday from 6 pm onward.

    Eurosport’s partnership with the 48-year-old pro-wrestling franchise for 2020-21 will include broadcast of all the marquee fixtures of the NJPW calendar for the year – Wrestle Kingdom, New Japan Cup, Best of Super Juniors and G1 Climax.

    Discovery South Asia sports business affiliate sales senior vice president and sports business head Vijay Rajput said, “India has a potent fan base for pro-wrestling and with the addition of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Eurosport is taking a major step towards providing quality sports content to the Indian audiences.”

    He also added, “This partnership only adds to our commitment of building vertical ownership and gives our viewers the much-needed ingredient to get their adrenaline pumping while experiencing some of the world’s best pro-wrestlers in action.”

    New Japan Pro-Wrestling president and representative director Takami Ohbari said, “New Japan Pro-Wrestling is very excited to partner with the best sporting network in the world to reach out to the Indian audience. India’s passion for professional wrestling is a known fact and with Eurosport we surely make the perfect tag-team to provide some of the best action from the world of pro-wrestling and fuel the desire of the Indian fans.”

    New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s iconic Rainmaker Kazuchika Okada heads a roster of world-leading athletes, including the double IWGP heavyweight and intercontinental champion Kota Ibushi, Jay White, Will Ospreay, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito and many more.

  • Eurosport India brings UAE’s first bilateral ODI series against Ireland

    Eurosport India brings UAE’s first bilateral ODI series against Ireland

    KOLKATA: Eurosport and Eurosport HD India are all set to bring to Indian fans the best of cricketing action this new year, starting with the bilateral ODI series which will be ICC associate member UAE’s first with a full member team – Ireland after the pandemic. The addition of this series expands Eurosport’s portfolio of live cricket offerings with the exclusive India broadcast slated to begin from 8 January, 2021, from 11 am IST.

    The exclusive partnership in association with leading sports marketing company, ITW Consulting, is Eurosport India’s next big cricket tournament after the PSL in 2020. The matches will be played on 8, 10, 12 and 14 January at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

    Discovery South Asia SVP – affiliate sales and head of sports business Vijay Rajput said: “Cricket is the most loved sport in the country and with the broadcast of this historic series Eurosport India takes a major step towards bringing India’s favourite sport to our viewers.”

    This partnership is Eurosport's second major association in cricket, added Rajput.

    “India is a nation that loves its cricket and we are thrilled that Eurosport India will bring this series to the cricket fans in the country. This is our first bilateral series with a Test playing nation after the pandemic that hit the world globally and an important one as we are playing an ICC full member team,” Emirates Cricket Board general secretary Mubashshir Usmani said.

    ITW Consulting CEO Bhairav Shanth said it’s committed to working with Emirates Cricket Board in taking UAE Cricket to an international audience. “Indian market being key to the cricket broadcast globally, we are happy to have Eurosport as Indian broadcast partner,” he added.

  • Live tennis action back on Eurosport

    Live tennis action back on Eurosport

    MUMBAI: World-class tennis makes its eagerly awaited return to Eurosport in June with Adria Tour tournaments featuring some of the sport’s biggest names going head-to-head starting June 13-14 and June 20-21 on Eurosport SD and Eurosport HD LIVE at 5:30 PM IST.

    The Adria Tour, supported by the Novak Djokovic Foundation, will feature current world number one Novak Djokovic, Austrian Dominic Thiem(week one), Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov and Croatian pair Borna Coric and Marin Cilic. Eurosport has committed to showing the opening two rounds of the series from Belgrade, Serbia (13-14 June) and Zadar, Croatia (20-21 June). Each match played at the event will be best of three sets, with four games in each set.

    Eurosport and Global Sports Rights & Sports Marketing Solutions president Andrew Georgiou said, “The excitement around live tennis’ return has been building and the coming together of the world’s best tennis talent this weekend is a chance for fans to see how the preparations of best players in the world are faring ahead of the Grand Slams in August and September. We are uniquely placed to amplify this moment by harnessing the scale of our channel and platform portfolio, Coupled with our deep and rich history in telling the stories from tennis that matter, means we are set to continue creating rewarding experiences for fans to enjoy.”

    Match schedule for the tournament is still to be confirmed.

  • LIVE Action from PGA Tour Returns on Eurosport with Charles Schwab Challenge starting June 12

    LIVE Action from PGA Tour Returns on Eurosport with Charles Schwab Challenge starting June 12

    Eurosport SD and HD will telecast Charles Schwab Challenge from June 12 marking the return of live action from PGA TOUR. The Charles Schwab Challenge features the top-five ranked players in the world and 17 of the top 20 in the FedExCup Standings, with Feature Groups including Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka; Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas and Jordan Speith; Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose; and Phil Mickelson, defending champion Kevin Na and Gary Woodland. GOLFTV will follow the biggest names on the PGA TOUR live from the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas from 12-14 June at 01:30 hrs IST.

    Vijay Rajput, SVP – Affiliate Sales & Head of Sports Business, Discovery – South Asia, said, “We are delighted that live sporting action starts on Eurosport this June with the beloved PGA Tour. The entire sports fraternity in the country will celebrate the return of competitive golf and we look forward to exciting months ahead of the PGA tour.”

    With health and safety the number one concern for everyone associated with the Charles Schwab Challenge, the PGA TOUR has partnered with Sanford Health to conduct on-site COVID-19 testing of all players, caddies and essential personnel, which will provide a rapid result within two to four hours of the test being administered. The PGA TOUR will also ensure strict social distancing measures will be accounted for with its return.   

  • MIB approves Discovery’s application to rename DSport as Eurosport

    MIB approves Discovery’s application to rename DSport as Eurosport

    MUMBAI: The ministry of Information and broadcasting has approved the application of Discovery Communications India (DCI) to rename DSport as Eurosport and DSport HD as Eurosport HD. 

    DCI, on 9 October 2019, applied for the renaming of DSport and DSport HD license to Eurosport and Eurosport HD. The Delhi high court had asked MIB to issue an order within eight week on this. 

    Discovery had launched its channel DSPORT with Venky and his firm Lex Sportel Vision as its “consultant.” But the two parted ways on 23 January 2020, with Discovery “exercising their right under the provisions of the Term sheet, following material breaches of Law by Lex Sportel and Venkateish in providing services to DCIN and DNAP” – terminating the relationship with Venky and Lex from 23 January 2020. 

    Prior to that, DNAP and DCI had put Lex Sportel and Venky on a four-month notice from 14 October 2019 during which they were required to provide services in accordance with the term sheet to DCI and DNAP. Recently, Discovery re-launched DSport HD in India on 17 February. 

  • Discovery acquires majority stake in Play Sports Group to form global cycling platform

    Discovery acquires majority stake in Play Sports Group to form global cycling platform

    MUMBAI:  Discovery Inc, the global leader in real life entertainment, today announced the purchase of a 71 per cent controlling stake in Play Sports Group – the digital sports media company behind market-leading cycling brands Global Cycling Network, Global Mountain Bike Network and Global Triathlon Network.

    The deal underpins Discovery’s ambition to build the number one cycling media ecosystem worldwide, leveraging its position as the global leader in live sports and a premiere rights holder for cycling events in Europe – through its principal sports brand Eurosport. In partnership with Play Sports Group, the world’s leading cycling community and digital destination of choice for cycling technology, training, tutorials, behind the scenes content and more, Discovery will create the first global ecosystem combining the best of community, content, lifestyle and events for the large and growing number of cycling enthusiasts – a $50bn global market.

    Discovery originally took a 20% stake in Play Sports Group in February 2017. This additional investment increases Discovery’s ownership of Play Sports Group, which will become a subsidiary of Discovery. Play Sports Group Founder and CEO, Simon Wear, and his team of 140 world class cycling experts across content, creative, digital, marketing and sales services, will join Discovery, forming a new global cycling-focused division in the company.

    Founded in 2012, Play Sports Group owns and operates eight cycling video channels generating over 45 million video views every month, with 5.7 million social followers and 3.1 million subscribers. During 2018, Play Sports Group launched five new international channels, a consumer retail division and fan club, and broadcasts live racing on its YouTube channels and via Facebook Watch.

    Discovery’s investment in the Play Sports Group strengthens the company’s strategy of powering people’s passions by developing brands and products that super serve global communities of fans and enthusiasts. The new proposition creates opportunities to develop a significant direct-to-consumer offering for cycling fans around the world. Discovery has recently announced a pioneering strategic alliance with the PGA TOUR to create a new international multi-platform home for golf. The company has since launched GOLFTV and expanded its rights portfolio as it moves towards becoming the established digital home of golf for fans around the world.

    Eurosport, part of the Discovery Sports family, is the number one sport destination in Europe and the leading TV rights holder for key cycling events, establishing an unrivalled portfolio which includes all three Grand Tours, more than 35 UCI World Tour races, including all five Monuments, and the UCI World Championships. In 2019, cycling fans will enjoy over 200 days and 2,500 hours of live cycling on Eurosport and its all-access, live and on-demand, streaming service, the Eurosport Player.

    Commenting on the deal, Discovery International president and CEO JB Perrette said, “This is another important step in Discovery’s strategy of being the global leader in brands and products that power people’s passions.  I couldn’t be more excited to partner with Simon, a fantastic entrepreneur, and his terrific team to help turbo charge the expansion and globalisation of the Play Sports Group.”

    Discovery Inc., CEO global direct to consumer Peter Faricy said, “Our partnership with Play Sports Group accelerates our global direct-to-consumer sports strategy and gives us an unprecedented opportunity to create a single global cycling destination for fans around the world. Discovery and Play Sports Group share a consumer-obsessed philosophy centered on a deep understanding of super-fans and creating content that inspires, informs and entertains, taking them closer to the sports they love.

    “We know the value Play Sports Group bring to our portfolio and we’re excited by the possibility of building a 360-degree proposition that combines the strength of their digital-first, fan-centric content, alongside Eurosport’s premium live broadcasting rights and existing direct-to-consumer platforms.”

    Play Sports Group founder and CEO Simon Wear said, “I am tremendously proud and excited for Play Sports Group to join the Discovery family. As a fan and community-focused business, we could not be more perfectly aligned with Discovery’s deep-rooted history in serving passionate, specialist audiences with super high-quality content.

    “Since Discovery’s initial investment in PSG, we have worked closely with JB Perrette and his team and it has become increasingly clear that, as innovative direct-to-consumer businesses, we have a shared vision of how to super-serve fans’ ever-evolving needs. The combination of Discovery and Eurosport’s leading package of cycling rights, its resources, infrastructure and company philosophy, combined with Play Sports Group’s massive community of cycling fans means we have a phenomenal package. The opportunity to build a world class digital destination, in multiple languages, for cycling fans the world over is one that’s just too good to miss.”

    Discovery Sports is the global leader in live sports with extensive brands and exclusive partnerships with premium sports and events including: Eurosport and the Eurosport Player, the Olympic Games, the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, La Vuelta a España, The Championships – Wimbledon, US Open, Roland Garros, Australian Open, ATP Tour, Bundesliga, English Premier League, UEFA Europa League, Eliteserien, PGA TOUR, Six Nations Rugby, FIS Ski World Championships, Moto GP and Formula E to name only a few.

  • Discovery appoints Ralph Rivera as Eurosport Digital MD

    Discovery appoints Ralph Rivera as Eurosport Digital MD

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications has appointed Ralph Rivera as managing director of Eurosport Digital. He will begin the role on 26 September and will be based in London. Rivera will report to Discovery Communications executive VP of international development and digital Michael Lang. He will also work closely with Eurosport CEO Peter Hutton and his leadership team.

    Commenting on the appointment, Lang said, “Recognized as one of the most forward-thinking digital executives in the world, Ralph brings extensive knowledge in the direct-to-consumer space, with a deep understanding of the digital landscape in Europe and a strong reputation for innovation and transformation. His product-centric mind set and technology orientation will help us to grow Eurosport Digital, which is one of Discovery’s top priorities, as we continue our march to making sports and all of our content accessible to viewers across all screens, in a highly meaningful and profitable way.”

    Eurosport is the number one sports destination in Europe and connects fans and athletes around the greatest sporting events across all screens. Rivera is charged with leading the aggressive expansion of Eurosport’s digital businesses, which today include Eurosport.com – the continent’s number one sports news website, and Eurosport Player – the leading subscription-based OTT sports platform across Europe giving fans an all-access pass anytime and on any device in 52 countries. He will collaborate with local teams to drive innovation for next-generation digital sports products and make the brand’s content available across all screens, to enhance viewers’ digital sports experience.

    With hundreds of millions of mobile data subscribers and growing OTT momentum via connected TVs, Europe provides a significant strategic opportunity to leverage both Rivera’s successful track record of creating immersive digital video products and Discovery’s recent investments in premium sports content. In Asia Pacific, Eurosport reaches more than 10 million fans.

    Hutton said, “Eurosport is focused on the further acquisition and delivery of locally relevant, premium sports content that will continue to attract more subscribers to the Eurosport Player. We continue to build momentum through the recent acquisition of premium rights such as Wimbledon across Europe and the Bundesliga in Germany. As we plan the enhanced delivery of these acquisitions and take ownership of the Olympic Rings from January 1, 2017, as the official multi-platform broadcast rights holder for Europe through 2024, we look forward to having Ralph as part of the Eurosport team.”

    Rivera joins from the BBC, where he spent six years as Director, BBC Digital and was responsible for all of the BBC’s digital media services, leading on the implementation and operation of BBC iPlayer as it grew by over 300% and delivering the first truly digital Olympic Games for London 2012, setting a new standard for live sports coverage online. Prior to the BBC, Rivera spent ten years at AOL, most recently as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Games, where he transformed the division from a loss leader to one of their most profitable media units.

    Rivera said, “Having enjoyed numerous successes with the BBC, my next move had to be big. The opportunity I have in leading the digital business at Eurosport is an amazing challenge, and working closely with Discovery’s world-class teams at Eurosport and across local markets, I hope to build next generation digital sports products, ensuring Eurosport consumers across Europe can enjoy more action, when and where they choose to view it.”