International sports broadcaster Eurosport has agreed a global rights partnership with the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and has acquired rights in Russia to North American ice hockey league the NHL.
Eurosport’s deal with the FFR covers the three French national team matches held during the autumn international window and runs for the next five seasons, from 2016-17 to 2020-21.
The contract excludes the French market. Eurosport will distribute matches around the world, as well as show games on its platforms in Europe and Asia-Pacific.
As well as offering autumn international games to fans in Europe via Eurosport and Eurosport Player, the live and on-demand digital sport platform, the new rights-holder will make the matches will be available in Asia through its wholly-owned pan-Asian rugby broadcaster Setanta Asia, and Rugby Pass, the digital content platform that reaches across 23 Asian markets.
Setanta Asia territories include: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong-Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Rugby Pass territories include: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
The first match available to Eurosport will be France’s encounter with Samoa on November 12.
Meanwhile, the NHL will be shown exclusively on Eurosport in Russia for the next three seasons. The agreement between the NHL, Eurosport and the IMG agency marks the first time NHL matches will be presented live on Eurosport.
The three-year agreement begins with the 2016-17 season and will run through to the 2018-19 season. The deal includes all broadcast and select multi-platform rights, and will be exploited via Eurosport and the Eurosport Player.