Eurosport to show Eliteserien in France as more European coverage considered

Discovery-owned international sports broadcaster Eurosport is to show exclusive live coverage in France of Norwegian football’s top-tier Eliteserien division during the 2020 season.

The season is scheduled to run from June 16. It is traditionally played from April to November, but has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

SportBusiness understands that the coverage will be extended by Eurosport to other European countries but the exact number of markets is still to be determined. The UK is also considered a likely candidate for coverage.

Eurosport already holds the rights across Europe, including exclusive rights in the Norwegian domestic market, as part of its six-season agreement that runs from 2017 to 2022. The deal was struck at the end of 2015 as Discovery sealed the rights to the top two divisions in a deal worth NOK400m (€36.8m/$40.5m) per season.

Eurosport France is to show two live fixtures per match day, beginning with the clash between Aalesund and Molde on June 16 (on Eurosport 2).

News of the Eliteserien coverage comes hard on the heels of Discovery’s purchase of rights in France and the UK to the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship