O2 to launch multiple sports channels in Czech Republic

Telco O2 has been granted permission by the Czech Republic Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting (RRTV) to launch five new sports channels in the country, according to the Parabola.cz website.

O2 Sport, O2 Sport2, O2 Sport3, O2 Sport4 and O2 Sport5 will operate 24 hours a day and broadcast in the Czech language.

The new channels will broadcast coverage of various major sports events, including club football competitions such as the Uefa Champions League and the Czech Liga, the top division of domestic football.

In May, O2 acquired rights for the Czech Liga under a three-season deal, from 2015-16 to 2017-18. The telco secured rights for the 2015-16 to 2017-18 seasons of the Champions League in February.

O2 will distribute the new channels via its O2TV IPTV platform. The primary O2 Sport channel will launch on August 8.