Discovery pounces for Tippeligaen rights

The Discovery Networks Norway division of international media company Discovery Communications has acquired domestic rights for the Tippeligaen, the top division of Norwegian football.

Under the deal with the Norwegian Football Association and Norsk Toppfotball, Discovery’s channels will also show coverage of the second-tier OBOS-ligaen. Discovery Networks Norway operates channels such as Eurosport Norway, TVNorge and Max.

Tippeligaen and OBOS-ligaen action will be broadcast on Eurosport Norway and Max, and some of the biggest matches will also be shown on TVNorge. All games will be available on the Eurosport Player streaming service. The deal will run for six years, from 2017 to 2022.

Dominic Coles, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Discovery Networks Northern Europe, said: “Sport is a major new genre for Discovery and acquiring strategically important local sports rights like Tippeligaen to supplement our fantastic pan regional rights creates a strong opportunity for us locally.”

Discovery Networks Norway is also teaming up with Norwegian newspaper VG, which will produce daily sports news for the broadcaster.